Next-gen Rolls-Royce Phantom leaked ahead of July 27 unveil

This is our most comprehensive look yet at the eighth-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom, which goes on sale globally in 2018 after a reveal this summer.

The images, reportedly from an online brochure and leaked in Chinese media, show the extended wheelbase version of the car's exterior styling and confirms the design we saw in spy shots of the car undergoing testing earlier in its development.

Its aesthetic is largely similar to the current-generation Phantom, although minor tweaks to the front end, such as a different headlight shape and altered bumper design, are present. The second, lower lights at the front are no more.

Inside, the interior appears as high-end as you'd expect, with dark wood, textured panelling and cream leather among the materials used and with Rolls' retro touches across the dashboard carried over.

The Phantom will be revealed at the end of July, but in the meantime the brand has revealed preview images of the car, showing its interior and exterior design.

From previously released preview images, it's clear to see that the car will have Rolls-Royce's signature dominant grille, and although not a design revolution, a step-change in the car's aesthetic is also visible. The headlight areas are where the most notable changes will take place.

The full design will be unveiled on July 27, at an event celebrating the Phantom's history.

The only other detail Rolls-Royce has officially revealed of the car is an interior trim panel, finished with an in-cut pattern on dark wood, with what appears to be an analogue clock in the centre of the panel.

We already know that the next Phantom – the model's eighth generation – is likely to share aluminium architecture with its Cullinan-codenamed SUV sibling, and it's likely that either an evolved version of the brand's 6.75-litre V12 engine or the Dawn's 6.6-litre V12 will feature, but no other details of the Phantom have been given.

We know that the Cullinan will be the brand's first all-wheel-drive model, meaning that if the Phantom adopts four-wheel drive, it'll be after the launch of the Cullinan, but it's likely that Rolls will keep this exclusive to its "all-terrain, high-sided vehicle" sibling.