New Rolls Royce Phantom spied testing

The all-new Rolls-Royce Phantom scheduled for a launch in late 2017, has been spied testing yet again. We have seen the pictures, and this is the first time that the interiors can be seen on the test mule. From the looks of it, the new Phantom will share some of its interior architecture with the upcoming BMW 7-series. However, typical Rolls-Royce elements such as round air-vents can be seen on the dashboard above the centre console.

 

The spy shots also reveal slightly flared wheel arches on the test car, which is indicative of a completely new drivetrain that might replace the current one, albeit with no change to the wheelbase of the Phantom. 

 

The next-gen BMW 7-series has also been spied testing near the company’s Munich headquarters, which suggests that the Phantom and the 7-series may share some driveline components that Rolls-Royce might be involved in developing. One of the few common parts could be a hybrid drivetrain, besides components such as automatic transmission with the integrated electric motor, complex control electronics and the battery packs. 

 

In an interview with our sister publication Autocar UK earlier this year, Rolls-Royce’s chief designer Giles Taylor had said, “I don’t feel boxed in by the (existing) design," (but) we are treading an evolutionary path and have a defining vision of modernity. The Wraith was all about modernising the brand. The fastback profile has a contemporary relevance. We are working on how to lay down what we call a ‘charismatic expressiveness’ for our future design language.” 

 

He had already started sketching ideas for the new car, and hinted at a new grille, light and air intakes. He felt there was a need for a “sense of connection and integration of the graphics”. His team wants the car to be less formal looking. "I don’t think that the current Phantom is ‘stiff’. I’m a fan of the permanence of the Phantom. But if we are going to take the model forward, we need to retain the Rolls-Royce ‘golden section’, a big part of which is the angle of the rear pillar. You get a lot of privacy behind that wide C-pillar. It’s part of the Phantom recipe,” Taylor added. 

 

The new Phantom is still three years away from showrooms, while the next generation BMW 7-Series is likely to hit showrooms around the end of 18 months from now.