Rolls-Royce confirms the name of its long-awaited first SUV (Video)

The National -- The long-awaited new SUV from Rolls-Royce will be called the Cullinan, the British brand has announced.

The super-luxury vehicle, which will be the first SUV by the grand old carmaker, is not being officially labelled an SUV: the company is, instead, referring to is as "high-sided vehicle".

It had previously been developed under the project name Cullinan, but it had been expected that it would be given a new name.

The Cullinan will go up against similarly high-end vehicles such as the Lamborghini Urus, which is due to be launched in the UAE this summer, and the Bentley Bentayga.

It is named after the Cullinan Diamond, which was discovered in South Africa in 1905 and is the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found.

“The name Cullinan has been hiding in plain sight since we revealed it as the project name some years ago,” says Torsten Müller-Ötvös, the company's chief executive. “Just like the Cullinan Diamond, it emerges when it is perfect and exists above all others.”

It is the second Rolls to be based on the company's new aluminium spaceframe, after the latest incarnation of the Phantom.

Despite the fact that Rolls-Royce is yet to confirm when the Cullinan will be put on sale, many customers have already paid deposits to get to the front of the queue.