The brand name of Volkswagen's high-end luxury sedan, currently in development and scheduled to debut in its final form in the spring of 2002. The project was first announced in September 1999, and an early interpretation was shown at the Frankfurt International Auto Show later the same year. The internal name for the car was Concept D1 – the first generation of the full-size D-class platform.
Current VW claims as to the car's features include:
The Phaeton is slated to be built in VW's new Transparent Factory in Dresden, which also features a Customer Delivery Area where buyers may pick up their vehicles and receive a VIP-style orientation. Volkswagen hopes eventually to deliver as many as 150 units daily, with a workforce of about 800.
The car itself distinctly resembles its smaller siblings, the Passat and Jetta, but with an even stronger, broader-shouldered appearance and a higher beltline. Despite the huge and unashamed VW emblems on the grille and decklid, many parts of the car (especially the taillights) stylistically echo a top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz or Lexus model. For that matter, VW's decision to market the car under their own nameplate, as opposed to selling it as an Audi or creating a separate luxury marque like the aforementioned Lexus, is a bold move to say the least. It remains to be seen whether buyers will decide that any Volkswagen – regardless of features – is worth the estimated $75,000 price tag, especiallly with so many other players in the same niche.
Specifications (preliminary, estimated):
- Wheelbase: 2.880 m
- Overall Length: 5.055 m
- Overall Width: 1.903 m
- Weight: 1960 kg
- Standard Engine: 3.2l V6; power 241 bhp (177 kW), torque 232 ft-lb(315 Nm)
- Available Engine: 6.0l W12; power 420 bhp(309 kW), torque 405 ft-lb (550 Nm)
- Available Engine: 5.0l V10 TDI diesel; power 313 bhp (230 kW), torque 553 ft-lb (750 Nm) - world's most powerful passenger car diesel
Sources: vwvortex.com, autointell.com and a few other websites and magazine articles.