The 2016 version of Rolls-Royce Phantom is one of the most beautifully designed and luxurious vehicles in the limousine segment. And the British company seems to want more and deliver more for its customers.
According to a report, the second generation will feature an all aluminum platform that BMW is developing for Rolls-Royce.
By using aluminum, the company will be able to shed some weight and also get some bragging rights over the competition. The new, second generation of the Phantom is scheduled to debut as early as 2016. The Phantom will be the first car from Rolls-Royce to fully utilize the all-aluminum architecture that the company has been developing in the past few years.
The new architecture is flexible and modular, and can be used for different vehicles. Rolls-Royce plans to use the new platform for future vehicles as well as for the 2016 Phantom. The platform is developed from scratch and all future models will ride on it.
Speaking of the design of the new Rolls-Royce Phantom, reports are that the limousine will look even more imposing and more modern than the first generation. The new platform will allow the company to make some changes in the design, mainly in the front. The front fascia of the new Phantom will feature taller radiator grille, as well as a completely redesigned front end with new rectangular headlamps. Other changes are mostly subtle, such as the flowing flanks that will now feature longer line and new C-pillars.
And while the second generation of the Phantom will be offered in both short and long wheelbase, fans should not expect a coupe version. Reports are that the Phantom coupe and the Phantom Drophead Coupe won’t live to see their second generation. The price of the sedan will stay roughly the same, despite the car using a new platform and architecture. The base model of the current Phantom model starts at $480,175.
Under the hood, the Rolls-Royce Phantom will continue to use an engine developed by BMW. It is the same V12 engine that was used for the first generation, but with probably more ponies under the hood.
The British company also announced that the same aluminum platform will be used for the SUV the company is planning for 2017. The SUV is at the moment known as the Project Cullinan. The SUV will also be a partnership between BMW and Rolls-Royce, as the vehicle will probably adopt many of the features of the upcoming BMW X7 series. The aluminum modular platform is also planned for a next generation Ghost and a smaller sedan.
One thought on “Second Generation Rolls-Royce Phantom to Feature Aluminum Platform, Debut 2016”