Spy Photos Show Little Difference in 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom
If you were expecting big changes for the nextgeneration Rolls-Royce Phantom, you are going to be disappointed. AutoGuide.com‘s spy photographers have caught the 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom testing and it is looking pretty much the same. It appears it will be more of an evolution than a revolution for the opulent luxury sedan, with the British automaker focusing on shedding weight by giving it an all-new aluminum space-frame architecture. The new architecture will eventually underpin-Rolls-Royce-crossover models as well as the rest of the company’s lineup in the future.
Earlier this year, Rolls-Royce announced the development of its new architecture, and that it will begin arriving in production models in early 2018. At the time, the British automaker revealed that engineering mules would be tested around the world to ensure the new space-frame architecture delivers the company’ s trademark“magic-carpet ride.”
For most of Rolls-Royce’s history, the company has never really paid any attention to weight, helping offset the giant sedan with a massive 6.8-liter V12 engine sporting 453 horsepower.
But with fuel economy becoming an important priority, thanks to regulations around the world, the company has no choice but to shed weight from its models.
Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce plans to reduce weight.
Early last year, the British automaker announced that it would develop an all-new, lightweight aluminum space-frame architecture that will eventually underpin all future models arriving from early 2018. Now, the company has announced it has begun testing the new, lighter architecture with engineering mules around the world.
Those engineering mules will be assessed on public roads in various locations around the world with the current testing phase looking to ensure that the new space-frame structure delivers Rolls-Royce’s trademark “magic-carpet ride.
”Testing will be conducted on a variety of surface sand weather conditions.
This is just the first stage of a development program that will usher in a new generation of Rolls-Royce models starting early 2018 that will likely be significantly lighter and more fuel efficient than the current offerings, which never really paid any mind to weight.
“Since 2003 and the commissioning of the new Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has reset the benchmark for luxury motoring,” sais Torsten MüllerÖtvös, chief executive of RollsRoyce Motor Cars. “Now it is time to take the next step in the luxury journey.
“This is why I am announcing today that on-road testing of our all-new proprietary architecture is beginning. This new architecture of pure luxury represents considerable investment in the future of our great brand.”