Spy Shots: phaecelifted VW Phaeton
Earlier reports suggested that Volkswagen may be canceling the range-topping Phaeton sedan. Some opined that it'd be right to do so – the big saloon was never the runaway global success Volkswagen had hoped for. It seems customers, in the United States especially, weren't prepared to drop that kind of dough on a VW.
Such rumors are now looking to be just plain wrong, as Volkswagen prepares not just one, but two sequential replacements for the uber-sedan. The first is a minor facelift to update the Phaeton's styling to be more like – perversely – the Polo supermini (and also like the Passat and Golf for that matter). The front bumper, headlights and hood are all revised, and inside the CD navigation system is replaced by a DVD version.
The facelift is just to tide the Phaeton over until its complete replacement comes in 2009. The all-new sedan is expected to take on more coupe-like styling, in the same vein as the Mercedes CLS. The 2009 Phaeton will also go down-market a bit so as not to compete with the Audi A8, but still positioned significantly higher than the Passat.
With cars like the Bugatti Veyron and the all-conquering Audi racers dominating Le Mans, we all know what happens when the people at the Volkswagen group set their minds to something, so this ought to be interesting....
(Follow the link for more pics of the revised Phaeton caught in the wild)
[Source: World Car Fans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Stacey 5:36PM (10/25/2006)
I wonder why it doesn't have the new VW/Audi front end?
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Tion 3:47PM (10/26/2006)
Because VW/Audi finally got it through their thick skulls that it's really uguly!
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ruggels 6:06PM (10/25/2006)
VW doesn't want it to be associated directly with the passat or the A8, not wanting to appear to 'down market' or in direct competition with their fellow VAG company
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fordman 6:33PM (10/25/2006)
Phaeton is a great care. I am waiting to afford a used one. Maybe a 2004 with the W12 engine. They go for 45,000 now. thats a lot of car for the money. I would keep it for a long time and drive my ford ranger on the side.
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David F 6:42PM (10/25/2006)
VW/Audi front end? Tell me how the A6 and Passat share a front end/face (besides both having A front end).
At any rate I'm glad the Phaeton doesn't have that gross chrome bra of the Rabbit/Jetta/Passat/AllNewVWcars. VW failed trying to copy the 7 series, perhaps the sexy lines of the CLS will prove more popular...
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Bob-o 7:44PM (10/25/2006)
"I would keep it for a long time and drive my ford ranger on the side."
You mean drive your Ranger and work on your VW on the side? :)
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JON 8:28PM (10/25/2006)
VW reached a little too far pushing the Phaeton in the market.I thought it'd be much more realistic to introduce a car positioned above the current Passat as a value alternative to the E-class/5 series/A-6 segment.I guess they were afraid they'd cannibalize the Audi sales.
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asurroca 11:29PM (10/25/2006)
I could have sworn I read somewhere when the Phaeton first launched that Volkswagen was planning on taking a huge hit on the first-gen Phaeton, and that it wouldn't be until at least the second-gen that the model breaks even.
With more distinctive styling and a lower pricetag, I'm sure the second-gen Phaeton will sell considerably better. The question is, after the flop in the US, will they bring it State-side?
One of the problems with the Phaeton was that it was pretty much a heavier, less-stylish Audi A8 at almost the same price. A lower-market Phaeton Mk2 will prevent that from happening.
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prash 2:12AM (10/26/2006)
i dont think vw why makes laxury cars. allredy they have audi. also new audi a7 is coming. if they cut price for vw brand similler to toyota that good. also i dont no jetta is midsize or compact?
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Troll House Cookie 3:14AM (10/26/2006)
VW is a stupid company.
They make cars branded Volkswagen which means "People's Car" and then create a luxury model that most luxury buyers wouldn't consider in part because it's called a people's car!
A "People's Car" should be cheap crap that almost anyone can afford. What's killing the Phaeton is its nitwit VW logo that screams CRAP FOR THE MASSES!
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JarryHames 10:47AM (10/26/2006)
VW has been all over the board lately with this brand and Audi. They're just greedy and still trying to ride on the success of previous years. Why should someone pay several dollars for a VW car in their Audi price range. Part of it is image and VW's brand does not represent luxury. That Phaeton and VW are sooo tired!
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JarryHames 10:19AM (10/26/2006)
VW has been all over the board lately with this brand and Audi. They're just greedy and still trying to ride on the success of previous years. Why should someone pay several dollars for a VW car in their Audi price range. Part of it is image and VW's brand does not represent luxury. That Phaeton and VW are sooo tired!
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G. Snyder 9:46AM (10/26/2006)
Troll House (oh so clever) et all,
Why do you think the Phaeton is not being cancelled for the US? Just because they are coming out with a facelifted/improved version does not mean it is destined for America.The Phaeton has done pretty well in other locations. I guess I had always read that VW may continue to sell it in other locations.
While I do tend to agree that People's Car and 12 Cyl. luxury barge are at odds, one could argue that VW is supposed to be about value and quality at a reasonable proce. The VW Beetle - the original people's car - was not the cheapest thing around when it was sold here. It provided a lot of solid engineering for the money though. One COULD make the argument that VW is just trying to apply those same concepts to a different class of car/market. Yes - it is a stretch. There is no denying, however, that the Phaeton is probably the best overall value in that class if you can get over the badge on the hood.
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Jscro 11:15AM (10/26/2006)
"Why should someone pay several dollars for a VW car in their Audi price range. "
Because it's a different kind of car. It's basically a bespoke (is that the right word?)car with many of it's pieces hand made and custom by the owner's request. Audi does not offer a program like this, although they really should.
Grant it, I don't think VW has any business in this particular market, but the w12 Phaeton is one of the best cars I've ever riden in. It's a fantastic automobile. I saw quite of few of them in Europe last year. I've only seen a handful in the US.
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Brandegee 11:22AM (10/26/2006)
VW wants to be everything to everybody, which can be hard to do. It requires sacrifices, like leaving most VW drivers stuck with that same 8-valve lump for 20 years. They still make People's Cars in Europe, South America – Polo, etc. – but it's a little too gourmet in the U.S. now, especially with kind of money you need to repair the thing. It's called a warranty, VW, look into it.
If VW is so concerned about halo image, I'm somewhat surprised they never built a limited run of W12 Nardos, which seemed highly developed.
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Aki 5:03PM (10/26/2006)
There's simply no reason for VW to be in the market. When paying top $$$ for a luxury car, those superficial aspects such as price, brand and styling factor in heavily in purchasing decisions. Between an Audi A6 and a next-gen Phaeton, I'd opt for the A6 just on branding alone (unless it'd have amazing classic styling).
VW design philosophy itself is a "People's car" ethos, which directly clashes with what people look for in a luxury car. Audi already occupies the understated luxury segment, so there's nowhere VW can go. Stick with Polos and Rabbits, please.
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MikeW 2:44PM (10/26/2006)
Why spend the extra money for a used W12. The W12 only had a 5 speed automatic and only 414hp.
Get the V8, dual air filters, 6 speed automatic, less weight-better mileage, nearly as fast as the W12.
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rv65 10:46PM (10/26/2006)
VW = The Rich people's car.
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iQuack 1:15AM (10/27/2006)
"18. VW = The Rich people's car."
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Not really. I think rich people prefer car brands with more class and with a better record for reliability.
Plenty of "rich" people own Hondas and Toyotas because those cars are better for the money and are less likely to be troublesome.
VW was good 40 years ago when it was a cheap BUG and hasn't been worth considering since.
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