Spy Shots: Facelifted 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton caught in Germany
by Damon Lavrinc on Jun 18th 2009 at 11:34AM 
The Volkswagen Phaeton may not have gotten much love in the States, but V-Dub's range-topping saloon has soldiered on in Europe, undergoing a series of minor tweaks since its introduction earlier this decade. For 2011, the Phaeton is finally due for a comprehensive facelift, and these newest spy shots show a new fascia is in the works.Although the extensive camouflage doesn't give us much to work with, expect a revised grille to join more sculpted, drawn headlamps that lend some familial cohesion to the sedan. Imagine a stretched and broadened Golf and it's likely you're not too far off. Other tweaks include a reworked rear bumper and tail lamps, along with a new instrument panel, center stack and shifter arrangement. A range of powerplants will be available – possibly including a V10 or V12 TDI – and the 2011 Phaeton could debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, with sales beginning shortly thereafter. Chances of it coming back to the U.S.: zero.
[Source: FastestCar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
artandcolour 11:51AM (6/18/2009)
i've always loved the Phaeton. they have so much road presence and are such extremely high-quality cars. i would love to have a mint used one someday, especially with the option of the rear buckets.
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zamafir 11:59AM (6/18/2009)
agreed, the rear profile on the car motoring along close to triple digits on the freeway is pretty nice in that restrained sense, on par with the A8.
homunculus 11:43AM (6/18/2009)
whenever i see a phaeton go by i think, there goes a man of quiet taste and sophistication and a man who knows how to get a superior luxury car at fire sale prices.
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MikeW 1:12PM (6/18/2009)
only if they are driving a CPO or used. This applies to the V8, 5 speed auto with W12-terrible.
and the red rear turn signals, ughh.
audi_arena 12:47PM (6/18/2009)
I think "there goes a cheap bastard who doesn't research the cars he buys and cant see the value in superior craftsmanship and engineering"
An A8 is simmilar in price, has the aluminum space frame, better interior and is more reliable. If you are spending 60 to 80k on a car, you're a moron for trying to be thrifty.
k.w.a 1:41PM (6/18/2009)
lol @ Space frame!!
My opinion tends to be more towards the middle.. i dont see Phaeton drivers as cheap bargain hunters, but I don't see them as informed consumers either. I really think the A8 made the Phaeton pointless, in terms of perception anyways. The A8 is also a quiet and reserved luxury car, especially compared to the 7 series S Class and even the LS; so there's no reason to say " hey, I'm classy and reserved----and I drive a Volkswagen!"
mk3 3:20PM (6/18/2009)
I have driven them all. I can say that you can find yourself very nice in the Audi, Mercedes, Bmw and in the Phaeton too. I prefer the Phaeton. I would take it anytime just for its Air Con system. It is so nice that makes me not want to stay in any other car.
As for the discussion "When I see someone driving a Phaeton" I think someone who bought a car for himself, who knows what he paid for and didn't choose a Merc or Bmw instead just to show that he is rich. Anyway I don't judge people from what car they buy but I do judge people that say it's a cheap car without even looking or trying one.
Henry 11:45AM (6/18/2009)
Don’t count out the Paheton just yet. A story in Ward’s Auto World said the following…
VW isn’t saying which car will be produced, but one official reveals it will be “somewhat larger than the Passat” sedan.
What car does VW have that’s larger than the Passat?
Maybe he was talking about the Touareg (sp?).
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skeptic 12:09PM (6/18/2009)
if this is about the car they are building in TN, it is going to be "a new Mid-Sized Sedan" for the US market only (likely to replace the Passat)
Other Man 12:10PM (6/18/2009)
Now this is the first report I've heard that says it has no chance of being sold here. I'd like to see where they got that from, as other sites have said it has a chance.
Anyway, isn't this pretty much all new rather than a facelift? It first went on sale in America for 2003, making it six years old already. I think a redesign is in order.
A dignified machine that would be interesting in America when competing with the likes of the Hyundai Equus.
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P.V. 12:14PM (6/18/2009)
It was a nice car, but VW priced it out of its range in terms of branding. I'm glad Hyundai didn't make the same mistake with the Genesis.
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Ligor 12:28PM (6/18/2009)
+1
i'd even say after being remined of this the $45k they had on the Taurus SHO makes sense now.
you get prettymuch more than this VW even had for $30k less
but the Genesis and SHO - i'd like to see a comparison of them to see how they stack up. they're both failily large adn neither will be cowned a sports sedan and I know one is RWD one is FWD bised RWD, but it's not like the Genesis is setting any records on the RWD world so I think it'd be a close call
Oink 12:30PM (6/18/2009)
The car was a ton overweight, had crappy first-generation navigation and no Bluetooth or iPod integration.
It may have rode smooth as heck and had a great interior fit/finish, but it didn't match the market needs...and was OVERPRICED and dropped like a stone on resale.
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max 12:28PM (6/18/2009)
When we got our new car we debated between and A8 and a Phaeton. Used, there are nearly no Phaetons out there, but lots of A8s. We ended up picking an A8 not because of availibility, but because when you get a luxury car, you want one that is a luxury car. The Phaeton is nice, but I like the A8 more. Namely, the aluminum body and also because the C-pillar on the Phaeton is kinda awkward.
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alfaBAT9 12:29PM (6/18/2009)
I've always liked the Phaeton myself. It's pulled off as a VW but is a full on higher class of car. There aren't many of them out there but when I do see one I always leer with a feeling of respect for the car, and a the driver too.
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mr.ed 3:03PM (6/18/2009)
I recall that these were closed out at just under $50k.
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Evan Wojtanek 2:03PM (6/18/2009)
Uh... first I've heard of there being a IAA 2010.
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