Rolls-Royce has been talking about building an SUV for three years. And, finally, we have an idea what that might look like – and what it’ll be called.

This is the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. And while it may have SUV-like proportions, it’s a Rolls-Royce, so it doesn’t really fit into such a mainstream definition. The Culllinan isn’t an SUV; it’s a “high-sided vehicle” (Rolls-Royce’s words, not ours).

Anyway, to everyone else, it’s an SUV, and it’s been a long time coming. Given that luxury car buyers in particular go wild for high driving positions and a smidge of off-road ability, the lack of a Rolls SUV has been something the company is keen to address.

The Cullinan, then, is supposed to be the ultimate expression of an SUV – much like Rolls would say that the Phantom is the ultimate expression of a luxury limousine. The name is inspired by the Cullinan Diamond, the largest flawless diamond ever found – and Rolls reckons that its new creation can live up to such a lofty name.

“We were inspired by the epic processes, over many millennia, which went into the creation of the Cullinan Diamond. The name embodies the many facets of our new motor-car’s promise,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Rolls-Royce CEO.

“It is the most fitting name for our extraordinary new product. Cullinan is a motor-car of such clarity of purpose, such flawless quality and preciousness, and such presence that it recalibrates the scale and possibility of true luxury.”

Strong words. As for any real information on the car, all we know so far is roughly what it’ll look like (we’ll just have to imagine it without the camouflage paint job for), and that it’ll be based on the same aluminium spaceframe underpinning the new Phantom.

Still, the imminent arrival of the Cullinan may give potential Bentley Bentayga buyers something to think about.

Which would you choose?