Rolls-Royce is readying an update for its flagship Phantom limousine, and our spies have captured the new model testing in Germany under light camouflage.
It’s clear from these photographs that the new Phantom will receive very minor styling details, but we expect interior updates to bring new infotainment tech to Rolls-Royce’s £364,300 halo model.
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Outside, this development car wears camouflage over the headlights and the popular chrome radiator grille, indicating that these will be restyled. like the current model, the new-look headlights will likely feature LED laser light technology, while the front grille looks mainly the same, save for a horizontal crease above the multiple metal strakes. An illuminated grille may also form part of the update, as seen on the smaller Ghost saloon.
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The wheels of this test car are shared with the current model, but we expect new designs as part of the facelift. The rear end is also unchanged, but a redesigned set of tail lights could be included when the final car debuts later this year.
Inside, the new Phantom will probably maintain the same hyper-luxurious cabin of the current model, save for new trim and upholstery options to add to the already huge scope for customisation. It will again be available in standard or long-wheelbase body styles, the latter affording huge amounts of rear legroom, but it’s in the front of the car that we expect the greatest changes.
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Every Rolls-Royce built under the BMW ownership has been equipped with the firm’s iDrive infotainment system, but the version used by the current Phantom is now outdated compared with BMW’s most current offerings. As a result, the new car’s 10.25-inch infotainment display could be replaced by a larger 14.9-inch screen running the current iDrive 8 software, as seen on the BMW iX.
iDrive 8 is the most advanced iteration yet, and brings a number of new features that could make their way to the Phantom, such as a lot more advanced voice commands, augmented-reality navigation and 5G connectivity, compared with the current Phantom’s 4G capability.
Under the skin, the facelifted Phantom is set to use the same running gear as before, with a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine producing 563bhp. This is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, which may receive calibration tweaks for smoother shifts, while the car’s air suspension system could also be re-tuned.
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