NO, IT’S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, BUT ROLLS-ROYCE IS NOW OUT WITH AN SUV!!!

If you are among those who think the rising popularity of SUVs/crossovers and the decline of the family sedan is the coming of the end of the world, I have some bad news for you.

In what could be interpreted as confirmation of the impending apocalypse, Rolls-Royce has brought an SUV to the market.

Yes, Rolls-Royce, the manufacturer of the ultimate luxury sedan, has heard the wishes of its loyal followers and brought forth an all-wheel-drive, off-road capable, five-passenger  ... SUV.

South Florida automotive media members, of which I am one, got a look at this creation last week at the monthly luncheon of the Southern Automotive Media Association.

Gerry Spahn, head of communications for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, was here to preview it, appropriately enough, at the Acqualina Resort and Spa, a South Florida luxury oceanside resort in Sunny Isles Beach just north of Miami Beach.

The vehicle is branded the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. with the name taken from the Cullinan Diamond, the world’s largest, gem-quality diamond ever found. It was discovered in 1905 at a mine in Cullinan, South Africa, and named after the mine’s chairman, Thomas Cullinan.

I’ll resist the temptation here to call the Rolls-Royce Cullinan a “gem” of an SUV, but apparently Spahn couldn’t, referring to it as a “dynamic, moveable gem” during introductions. Spahn noted that the Cullinan sits atop of the food chain when it comes to luxury SUVs, and it’s hard to argue with that.

About the only thing it doesn’t have is three-row seating because, well, Rolls-Royce customers didn’t want it and Rolls-Royce customers get what they want. Or, in this case, don’t want.

Based on architecture of the Rolls-Royce Phantom sedan, the Cullinan comes with a 6.75-liter V12 engine rated at 563 horsepower with 627 pound-feet of torque kicking in at 1600 rpm. That kind of power is needed when you have nearly three tons of bulk to haul around,. (Alas, we could only look and touch the Cullinan, not drive it!)

Though shorter than the Phantom, the Cullinan is larger than what could be considered its only competitor, Bentley’s Bentayga, which has been around for a couple of years.

A very much a refined vehicle that features such niceties a “rear viewing suite” on the split tailgate featuring a small table (for holding champagne glasses) and jump seats for two (the better for viewing polo matches), the Cullinan is no pretender when it comes to off-road treks.

Pushing the button on the console marked “off-road” makes all the adjustments necessary for the Cullinan to take on the most-challenging tests. At the global premier a few weeks back in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, journalists had the opportunity to take the Cullinan to the summit of the 7,800-foot Snow King Mountain (and presumably back down).

Frankly, it’s hard to imagine taking such a beautiful vehicle into such conditions, and I doubt if many Rolls owners actually will. But they can do so if they want.

The Cullinan starts with a base MSRP of $325,000 but extras can take the Cullinan much higher.

But I have a tip that can get you one free.

Simply buy the move-in-ready “Palazzo del Cielo” Penthouse suite at the Acqualina Resort. The Cullinan is included in the suite’s $38 million price tag, and a full garage will be available right across Collins Avenue.

SOUTH FLORIDA AUTO JOURNALISTS GET PEEK AT NEW ROLLS-ROYCE CONVERTIBLE

Every month the Southern Automotive Media Association — an organization of automotive journalists based in Miami but with members from all over the country — has  a luncheon that’s usually sponsored by an automotive manufacturer who wants to give us a peek at its latest product.

This month’s event at the Rusty Pelican Restaurant across Biscayne Bay from Miami’s Brickell area was rather special in that the vehicle was the new Rolls-Royce Dawn Drophead Coupe (a fancy term for convertible) and Gerry Spahn, the company’s communications director, saw to it that those in attendance also got the opportunity for short jaunts in the beautiful new car.

The chance to get behind the wheel of a $345,000-plus vehicle doesn’t come along very often, even for auto reviewers who have been in the business longer than I have, which is only 15 years now. Unfortunately, I had to leave before getting behind the wheel, but just a look at this car is enough to take your breath away.

Spahn kind of summed it up when he said that Rolls-Royce is “not a car, it’s a luxury item.”

There’s no doubt it holds a special place in automotive hierarchy.

One of the few automotive companies that has reached the century mark in longevity with the same logo and same name, Rolls-Royce has undergone a revitalization since BMW purchased the company in 1998.

“Rolls-Royce hit its hey-day in the ’60s — the ’50s, ’60s, and early ’70s — and peaked out in the early ’70s,” Spahn said in his presentation. “then went into the ’80s and the ’90s on a downslide.”

But BMW Group started a rebuilding process that started with the a new Phantom, which, as Spahn noted, was the most expensive, most exclusive motor car there is in the world. That kind of perplexed Spahn, who was with another company at the time.

His question?

“How can you start there and then try and grow your business?” he said.

But if he didn’t understand it then, he does now.

“When I look back on it, it makes perfect sense.”

That strategy re-affirmed the company’s status as a luxury item.

“From 2003 to about 2009, Rolls-Royce never sold more than 1,000 cars,” he said. “But that was the plan. Establish a secure base of very, very loyal customers for a luxury item.”

Then in 2009 came the Rolls-Royce Ghost and in 2013, the Wraith.

And volume started to grow, though that was a result of the approach, not the ultimate goal.

“The key to learning is never chase that volume,” he said. “The easiest way to chase volume is with a cheaper car, is to commoditize your product. So we don’t chase that volume. We let the volume comes to us, and we build the products that make our overall volume grow. Volume is not our objective. It is the byproduct of building beautiful, beautiful motor cars.

“I think that is something I cannot express enough.”

Now Dawn is a new start for Rolls-Royce (An aside here: How many headline writers do you think are going to refer to this convertible as the “dawn of a new era” for Rolls-Royce? Yeah, me too. Few will resist.) The company has seen more new owners come into the brand in recent years with “80 percent of the new owners first-generation wealth,” Spahn said.

Alas. I am not part of that 80 percent. But maybe you are. If you want to check out Spahn’s presentation, it’s on Youtube at https://youtu.be/34xQXzsEPg4 and takes just over 10 minutes to view.