Rolls-Royce is expected to unveil its all-new
Phantom later this month, but we may not have to wait that long to catch a
glimpse at what it has in store.
Shared on the French fan forum Worldscoop and brought to our attention by our astute reader Simon is a trio of
ostensibly leaked images showing the next-generation limousine in
long-wheelbase form. While we can't verify their authenticity, they certainly
look plausible as depicting the forthcoming Phantom VIII to follow the
seventh-gen model that was only recently discontinued.
Previewed last year by the 103EX concept, the
eighth-generation Phantom promises significant advancements over the previous
iteration that was in production since 2003. Those
will include more modern styling, without sacrificing on the British marque's
signature stateliness. But there'll be more to it than fresh sheetmetal.
The new Phantom is being built on an all-new
aluminum architecture that it will share with the Cullinan crossover and most
every other Rolls to follow in the near future. The platform is being
engineered for all-wheel-drive capability, and while we don't know whether that
will be offered on the Phantom, per se, we are anticipating a four-wheel steering
system to help maneuver the big beast. It'll also be more advanced inside,
where the wealthiest customers can expect the latest infotainment systems
blending with the most luxurious materials available.
We'll likely be looking at either an evolved version of the
outgoing model's 6.75-liter naturally aspirated V12, or an upgraded version of
the Ghost's 6.6-liter twin-turbo unit. A fully electric version may follow at
some point, but Rolls has ruled out bridging the gap in the meantime with a
hybrid. One way or another, we'll find out exactly what the BMW Group has in
store for its flagship model on July 27.
