The new luxury car benchmark: VW Phaeton (56k warning, many hi res photos)

So here we now have some detailed information about the new benchmark luxury car, the Volkswagen Phaeton W12.

It's an all-wheel-drive, 6.0 litre W12 (or 5.5 litre V10 Tdi, or 3.2 litre V6) powered shock for BMW and Mercedes Benz. It doesn't match BMW or Mercedes Benz, but instead it moves the benchmark forward. For comfort, luxury, performance, and value, it's better.

I present you with a small selection of the masses of info in this car available at:

http://www.km77.com/marcas/volkswagen/phaeton_02/galeria2.asp

The Phaeton W12 is powered by a remarkable W12 6.0 litre engine, with 420hp, and 550Nm of torque. This engine packs 12 cylinders into the same length as an 8 cylinder engine (but packs much heavier power and torque figures).

Luxury saloon it may be, but VW believes that Phaeton drivers are more important than BMW and Benz drivers, and thus, doesn't believe Phaeton drivers should be stuck in the typical 250km/hr autobahn train, so, allows the Phaeton to go on to a possible 320km/hr! Suprising to find a large luxury car not speed limited these days.. It will be a big selling point.

http://www.km77.com/marcas/volkswagen/phaeton_02/gra/34.jpg
Above: Phaeton's elegant and classy side profile.

http://www.km77.com/marcas/volkswagen/phaeton_02/gra/01.jpg
Above: One of the more muscular and strong looking aspects of the Phaeton. 4 exhaust outlets emphasise the Phaeton's performance credentials.

http://www.km77.com/marcas/volkswagen/phaeton_02/gra/5.jpg
Above: 3/4 front view. Note the Mercedes Benz S-Class design inspiration in the side mirrors, with the integrated turn indicators. Very smart design.

http://www.km77.com/marcas/volkswagen/phaeton_02/gra/17.jpg
Above: The speedometer says it all..

http://www.km77.com/marcas/volkswagen/phaeton_02/gra/20.jpg
Above: Such a charming looking dash view. Note the superb and flawless wood trim. Also note the peerless design integration.

http://www.km77.com/marcas/volkswagen/phaeton_02/gra/23.jpg
Above and below: The rear passengers are well catered for.. See below as well.
http://www.km77.com/marcas/volkswagen/phaeton_02/gra/21.jpg
Above: Climate control settings for rear passengers, too.

http://www.km77.com/marcas/volkswagen/phaeton_02/gra/26.jpg
Above: Rear passengers can also watch television, too. A screen is located in the back of each front seat headrest.

http://www.km77.com/marcas/volkswagen/phaeton_02/gra/24.jpg
Above: Wow.. All these controls are for the REAR seats.

http://www.km77.com/marcas/volkswagen/phaeton_02/gra/03.jpg
Above: The massively complex, but supremely comfortable seats, with heating, and fan cooling as well.

Everyone was expecting the VW Phaeton to be a match for the BMW 7 Series, and the Mercedes Benz S-Class, but, instead of matching its rivals, it's become the benchmark. It's obviously superior.

And all Phaeton models (5.5 litre Turbo diesel V10, and 6.0 litre W12, and 3.2 litre V6) come with sophisticated elctronically controlled air-suspension. Ferdinand Piech believes that only air suspension can meet the conflicting demands of having sporty handling, but with a soft ride quality as well.

[p5.]

Personally, I think this car is a styling failure: it simply looks like a poorly-done imitation Jetta. In profile, there's way too much front overhang, and the C-pillar is very clumsy, a weak compromise between the trademark BMW dogleg C-pillar and the swooping one from current Benzes. From the back, the styling of the trunk is already dated (and appears to be a copy of a 1995 Nissan Maxima) and it is so devoid of detail and character that it looks like an economy car ("We couldn't afford any chrome or complicated pressings because they would add $23.00 to the price...").

Hard to imagine this lump came from the same designers who did the Jetta and Passat, both wonderfully proportioned and much-copied cars. And despite the strides they've made recently, seeing that giant VW logo in the middle of the steering wheel is not going to give people that "luxury" feeling.

Still, if they price as aggressively as Lexus did when it entered the luxury market, they'll move some cars.

Paul (.p5.)

Also, please note, I'm trying to find some blueprint drawings of the Phaeton, as well, in case anyone should wish to make it for NFS..

And I think, it's a whole lot better looking than the BMW 7 series, and the new Mercedes Benz S-Class (it has the bustle boot from hell at the back of it).

But, then again, nobody has good taste these days.. (Look at all the dumb idiots buying the new 7 Series BMW...) Urgh..

I like the Phaeton, because it is simple, and elegant looking. All the lines flow smoothly, and don't clash with each other.. It's easily much nicer looking than the BMW 7 Series..

And I also happen to belong to the group that believes that cars use too much chrome-work, these days. It should only be used in moderation, as VW show here.

[NameX]

I don't like the Idea of mechanical seats. For the same reason I don't like electric windows. They can/will break down at the most inconvenient of times. :rolleyes:


Imagine this (Fiction). Very hot day, the AC dies, the Electric windows(needed to be fixed weeks ago) don't work and the seat decides to stick at the most uncomfortable angle. ( Pre-determined setting for different drivers). :help:



Basically I don't like High Tech cars. ^_^

NameX: I don't remember ever having power-adjusted seat troubles, or climate control air-conditioning troubles in any of my cars.. Same with power windows for that matter..

My old Peugeot had power windows, and powered (front) seats, and I never experienced a problem with them, ever. Mostly the problems seem to afflict particular brands (with very poor quality records, for 1 particular top selling V6 and V8 powered car, though I won't name the brands in particular, because it'd be likely to cause World War 3). Believe me, the evidence against that particular brand (and model in particular) is stacked up very very high. Persistent 6 speed manual gearbox failures, poor fit and finish (causing paint to be rubbed away, because of the body panels rubbing together with the boot/trunk lid, for instance), interior trim and panels not secured/fitted properly.. Seat belts failing (dangerous).. Engines failing prematurely.. And the list goes on..

At least this brand has finally (after so stubbornly claiming nothing was wrong) acknowledged the problems, and is attempting to fix them.. Certainly their new Grand Touring V6 and V8 coupé is much better built, but still with room for improvement..

My current car has fairly advanced front seats. They have power adjustment, and, also the seat moves forward and the backrest tilts forward, at the touch of a button (allowing access to the rear seats). However, pressing the button while someone is in the seat, causes it to have no effect. That is because of the sensor mat inside the front seats.. It all works perfectly, and never malfunctions.. And its not a European car, either.. Or Japanese..

[Alrik]

That interior sure looks sweet.....now where did i put that spare million bucks :D .

Ow BTW as far as not being limited at 250kph, it is not completely new: the new BMW coming out somewhere in 2003 i think also got rid of the limit of 250 kph and gets 320 aswell if i recall correctly. hmmm i think it's the M6 i'm talking about, read it in a mag a few months ago.....cept for the obvious drooling moments my memory is a bit fuzzy but i'm pretty sure that's the car.

The M6 may be fast, but, being a new BMW, it will look oh so ugly, unfortunately..

You could have an older E38 model 7 Series which did 290km/hr.. It was under a different name: Alpina B12 6.0. While very fast, and with a very luxurious (and tastefully finished) interior, it seems Alpina cars suffer from bad depreciation, too, which means they are a costly investment, come trade in or resale time..

I've seen some pictures of the soon to arrive BMW 6 Series, and, unfortunately, it doesn't look promising, as far as good looking styling goes.

But, as far as Phaeton goes, the silly part of it is that Mercedes-Benz could have avoided even having the Phaeton take on their S-Class, if they had avoided taking on VW's Golf with the Mercedes Benz A-Class.. Ferdinand Piech was reportedly so furious that another rival (from another, higher market segment) should take on his number 1 selling small car, that he okayed a plan on the very same day as the A-Class launch, to take on every single Mercedes-Benz model, from the smallest, to the largest, and most expensive ones..

One of the main selling points of the Phaeton will surely be its extravagantly opulent interior, for sure, and the fact that it doesn't look like the ugly BMW 7 Series, or the even more repulsive new Mercedes S-Class (under testing at the moment). Truth be told, the new Audi A8 may find it tough competing against the Phaeton..

Technology wise, it seems to have everything covered too, right down to a sophisticated air-suspension system, which provides optimum ride comfort, with sport handling as well.. Apparently the air-suspension took VW engineers a long time to perfect (much longer than expected), but, Ferdinand Piech (rightly so) insisted that the car would not be released until everything was absolutely perfect.

And for the knockout punch, it is priced cheaper than it's rivals.. (Something even luxury car makers find desirable).

[DCsplash]

Chris,,, where have you seen pics of the new S class?

Not that i'll be getting one,, i'm sure the ashtray will be to small.

thanks

[NameX]

OK maybe newer cars are more reliable these days. I do know a friend which had experianced the AC & window problem. I suppose the car being a VK or VL Holden commodore
is self explainitory. ^_^

New S-Class Mercedes Benz:

http://bilnytt.spray.se/nyheter/Scoop!%20Mercedes-Benz%20S-klass/Sklasstor2.jpg
http://bilnytt.spray.se/nyheter/Scoop!%20Mercedes-Benz%20S-klass/Sklasstor3.jpg

http://bilnytt.spray.se/nyheter/Scoop!%20Mercedes-Benz%20S-klass/Sklasstor4.jpg
http://bilnytt.spray.se/nyheter/Scoop!%20Mercedes-Benz%20S-klass/Sklasstor1.jpg

Bustle boot styling clearly evident, even on the disguised prototype.

And the new Audi A8:

http://bilnytt.spray.se/nyheter/Scoop%21%20Nya%20Audi%20A8/A8stor1.jpg
http://bilnytt.spray.se/nyheter/Scoop%21%20Nya%20Audi%20A8/A8stor2.jpg

I think I'd prefer the VW Phaeton.. Better proportioned.

[[XR]Evo]

I like Volksies even more now...Are Audi and Volswagon under the same corporate umbrella, I know the A4 and the Passat are basically identical cars, when you remove the panels and trim. Is the new A8 just like this Phaeton beast, which represents lust on wheels, with a different exterior 'finish'?

[DC_Targa]

I think it looks like a frog.

Unlike a Porsche, there will not be to many Cinderellas lining up to try and turn the frog into Prince Charming.

[DCsplash]

VW and Audi have been part of the same group for years.. Along with them , you can add, Seat, Skoda, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce. Not bad for a firm who servived on the profits of very few models for a long time, and have nearly "gone under" on a few occasions. Ferdinand Piech's grand father would be very proud of him...

Thanks for posting the "S" class pics Chris, i remember now i have seen pics of the prototype, but not the others... I don't think it's to bad actually, carries it of better then the Bemmer... Those boots are very retro tho, and retro went out in the 90's :D ... That Merc's got 10 head/driving/fog lights, proof that counting ya money is bad for your eyes... Or is that something else i'm thinking of...

These bustle boots went out of style in the 40's and 50's, unmourned as well, I might add..

[VQ]

The VW phateon looks good but the Merc front looks like the Hyandai Tribuan front which is the wrong look and makes it ugly along with the 7-series which no matter how technalogically advanced (10 computers! they might as well have 1 really powerful one) the rest of the world have to look at it from the outside and they will say "that car is ugly" but the A8 does look like the rest of the NEW Audi range and does look good.

The S-Class has 10 computers?? What for?? &(

I can't imagine that a car would have enough functions for 10 computers to control.. But you are absolutely right though, it looks awful..

[D_Man]

That VW looks pretty boring (read conservative and uninspiring) and I hate the wood paneling. Looks garish to me :rolleyes:

It is obvious that money can't buy taste or style :o

Dave