SPY PICS: Rolls-Royce Ghost materialises

It's a Rolls-Royce alright, but it's actually more Rolls-Royce than any that have existed since the hallowed brand came under the control of BMW in 1998.

Beneath the heavy camouflage applied to this behemoth pictured circulating in the snowy Arctic Circle, is the next-generation Rolls-Royce Ghost, the "base" model in the company's line-up – taking a step away from its 7 Series BMW heritage for the first time with its own aluminium spaceframe construction.

There's much speculation about how much BMW will be incorporated into the next Phantom, but it's certain that it will continue with the now almost-venerable 6.7-litre twin-turbo V12 engine also used in the latest Phantom model.

Using the same basic engine, the Ghost currently delivers 420kW/780Nm, but this could increase in the new model – although it's uncertain whether or not it will be as torquey as in the current Phantom, which develops 419kW/900Nm.

Although the word is that the Rolls-Royce Ghost will adopt rear-wheel steering as standard, the focal point of all the speculation is whether or not it will adopt the all-wheel drive system now seen in the mighty Cullinan SUV.

As the Wraith coupe and Dawn convertible Rolls-Royce models use the Ghost as a starting point, the next versions should be hinted at in the Ghost test mule seen here.

Virtually new from the ground up, the Ghost appears to have been given a slightly more flowing profile, particularly at the back where the boot appears to angle away to a degree, while the front end will be clearly a minimalistic evolution of the current model. The rear-hinged doors, similar to those in the bigger Phantom model, appear set to remain.

Expect to see the new Rolls-Royce Ghost later this year, maybe at the Frankfurt motor show in September, or early in 2020.