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Carsales Staff16 Nov 2019
NEWS

SPY PICS: Next-gen Rolls-Royce Ghost... busted!

Rolls-Royce continues work on its next-gen Ghost for 2020. And rumours suggest it might be AWD

These most recent spy photos of the next-gen Rolls-Royce Ghost clearly reveal the car's evolutionary styling, just as the previous round of pics did, snapped early in 2019 during the European winter.

But the new pics do tell us one thing: Some degree of sporting capability will be factored into the design of the new Ghost. Our spy photographers grabbed the shots while the Ghost was circulating Germany’s Nurburgring for handling evaluation, and reportedly in the company of a BMW M5 as a benchmark.

Despite this, the traditional Rolls-Royce “waftability” should not be compromised by the next-gen Ghost’s ability to offer a degree of driving pleasure. Sitting low and slinky on its hydraulic suspension during the Nurburgring workout, the big Rolls saloon certainly doesn’t look ungainly.

The new, second-rung Rolls-Royce, which will continue to compete with the Bentley Flying Spur and the Mercedes-Maybach S 650, is to be based on a new platform it will share with the latest-generation Phantom models. It’s anticipated that a reported 30 per cent improvement in structural rigidity, plus a lighter overall weight, will combine to make for a more wieldy, efficient Ghost.

The new aluminium-intensive platform is a departure from the previous model, which shared its steel monocoque construction with the BMW 7 Series and is seen as a sign that the Rolls-Royce brand is purposefully creating a certain amount of design independence from its German parent.

Rolls-Royce signatures such as the angular grille and the rear-hinged back doors will continue alongside new-tech innovations that are expected to include laser headlights, 48-volt electrics, an active roll-steadying system and a fully up-to-date interior with all the necessary electronics.

As for the Ghost's powerplant, it’s expected to continue with an enhanced version of the twin-turbo 6.6-litre V12 used in the current model, most likely tuned for higher power and torque outputs. Currently the Rolls-Royce Ghost produces 420kW/820Nm, which is enough to send the 2.3-tonne-plus, 4.9 metre-long luxury saloon from zero to 100km/h in 4.9sec.

The big question is whether or not the still-heavy and sizable Rolls-Royce will step up to an all-wheel drive system, stolen directly from the BMW M760Li xDrive and driving through a faster-shifting eight-speed auto to improve on-road capabilities.

The extra weight dictated by an adoption of AWD will most likely be offset by the lighter new platform, to the benefit of economy/emissions, while added agility and manoeuvrability should be provided via the adoption of four-wheel steering. Some commentators are predicting both AWD and four-wheel steering are more likely than not for the new Ghost.

Although an exact date is so far uncertain, expectations are that the next-gen Rolls-Royce Ghost will be introduced to the world some time in 2020.

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Written byCarsales Staff
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