The work has begun on an all-new version of Rolls-Royce Phantom at the company’s headquarters in Goodwood. Designer and engineers are currently in the sketching phase of the project, but they have plenty of time to come up with something good, as the car is slated for 2017.

The next Rolls-Royce Phantom is reportedly getting a substantially different design than the current model with more flair and joie de vivre. The designers want a more expressive design while maintaining the car’s signature features, such as the ‘golden section’, a big part of which is the angle of the rear pillar.

Rolls-Royce design chief Giles Taylor reveled to Autocar: “I don’t feel boxed in by the [existing] design. We are treading an evolutionary path and have a defining vision of modernity. The Wraith was all about modernising the brand. The fastback profile has a contemporary relevance. We are working on how to lay down what we call a ‘charismatic expressiveness’ for our future design language.”

Along with a revolutionary design, the 2017 Phantom will get new powertrain options. The current V12 is likely to remain in production, albeit with major tweaks and improvements, while there is a serious talk about the possibility of an electric version. RR makes no secret of the fact that hybrid powertrains are in the future of the company and the Phantom is definitely getting one. But they are more reluctant about an electric version. After all, they have already dismissed the idea once before.