Rolls-Royce announces its first SUV

Rolls-Royce has released photographs of a prototype that will be used to develop the brand's first SUV.

The brand is developing a model codenamed Project Cullinan, which is slated to launch in 2018.

In a statement, Rolls-Royce called the prototype "a car full of development" and said testing on public roads around the world began on Friday. The vehicle will undergo winter testing in the Arctic before moving on to the Middle East to test its performance in desert conditions.

The car will be built on a new aluminum architecture, which will form the basis for all future Rolls-Royce vehicles, and will feature a new all-wheel drive system.

“This is an incredibly exciting moment in the development of the Cullinan project,” said Rolls-Royce CEO Thorsten Müller in a statement.

Rolls-Royce enters the luxury SUV market, competing with the recently launched Bentley Bentayga. In addition, Lamborghini plans to start selling the Urus SUV next year.