2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom spied without false body panels

The next-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom has been spied again doing testing on public roads in Germany.

Although it’s wrapped head to toe in camouflage, this latest prototype doesn’t feature the false body panels, or temporary head- and tail-light units, that were attached to earlier development vehicles, including the car spotted back in June.

This means that we have a much better view of the car’s styling features. As we have seen previously, the new Phantom will have a silhouette that’s similar to today’s car with a bluff front end, long bonnet, large rear passenger section, sloping tail, and a thick D-pillar that’s well suited to ensuring the privacy of those ensconced in the rear seats.

Unlike the pre-facelift version of first BMW-developed Phantom, the new car will feature fully integrated headlight units on either side of the company’s upright grille. The headlamp internals on this car seem to an all LED affair, with the daytime running light graphics suggesting that the headlight’s rectangular enclosure will feature rounded corners.

Along the side, the new Phantom features two prominent shoulder lines: one that flows from the flat bonnet to the trailing edge of the front door, and another that grows in width as it runs underneath the side windows before terminating at the tail-lights.

Once again the car’s rear doors will be reverse hinged for easier entry and exit.

The next-generation Phantom will be the first vehicle from the brand to use a new aluminium platform, which should help the super-luxury automobile shed a significant number of kilograms.

In time this new platform will also be used underneath Rolls-Royce’s first SUV, codenamed Project Cullinan, and the next-generation Ghost.

Power for the new Phantom will likely come courtesy of V12 petrol engine. Like the current car, the next-generation Phantom will be available in both standard and long wheelbase editions.

An earlier spy photo set included pictures of the new Phantom’s interior, which now features a completely digital instrument panel.

Australia

The next-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom is expected to make its debut next year. It probably won’t arrive in Australia until late 2017 or early 2018.

MORE: Rolls-Royce Phantom news and reviews

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