Photo: Volkswagen
On exactly the same day that we learned VW discontinued the Phaeton from Britain, updates for exactly the same flagship saloon were announced in China.
The 2015 Phaeton will launch in China on June 6th in four variants: 3.0L, 3.0T, 3.6L and 4.2L. All come with a 6-speed Tiptronic auto, while the fastest model (the V8) takes 6.9 seconds to reach 100 km/h. Prices will start from 759,200 yuan ($122,300) and orders will begin being made after the debut at the Macao Auto Show.
The model features a new design for the front bumper (only small changes), LED fog lights and a chrome-nickel metal strip for the front. The model also comes with electrically folding exterior mirrors with LED turn signals and a panoramic sunroof as standard.
From the back, the black and red LED taillights make this large sedan look a bit like the previous generation of the Passat, which is sold as the Magotan in China. But what's really interesting on China-spec cars is that the exhaust cuts though the rear bumper.
Inside, the Phaeton adds a new kind of wood trim, a Dynaudio sound system and infotainment screens for the back seats on long wheelbase models. Heck, it even has that Mercedes-like feature where you can move the focal point of the music to different points in the cabin.
Launched in 2002, the Phaeton has been deemed to be a major market failure for Volkswagen. However, the people in China seem to love them even now and around 22,000 units were sold in 2011 and 2012 alone.
At the beginning of 2015, Bernstein analyst Max Warburton said VW lost €28,000 for each Phaeton it made in the decade between 2002 and 2012. Despite this, they say another one is already good-to-go for production. Expected to be built on the same platform as the Audi Q7 and next-generation A6, this car will launch in the second half 2017 for Europe and Asia.
The model features a new design for the front bumper (only small changes), LED fog lights and a chrome-nickel metal strip for the front. The model also comes with electrically folding exterior mirrors with LED turn signals and a panoramic sunroof as standard.
From the back, the black and red LED taillights make this large sedan look a bit like the previous generation of the Passat, which is sold as the Magotan in China. But what's really interesting on China-spec cars is that the exhaust cuts though the rear bumper.
Inside, the Phaeton adds a new kind of wood trim, a Dynaudio sound system and infotainment screens for the back seats on long wheelbase models. Heck, it even has that Mercedes-like feature where you can move the focal point of the music to different points in the cabin.
Launched in 2002, the Phaeton has been deemed to be a major market failure for Volkswagen. However, the people in China seem to love them even now and around 22,000 units were sold in 2011 and 2012 alone.
At the beginning of 2015, Bernstein analyst Max Warburton said VW lost €28,000 for each Phaeton it made in the decade between 2002 and 2012. Despite this, they say another one is already good-to-go for production. Expected to be built on the same platform as the Audi Q7 and next-generation A6, this car will launch in the second half 2017 for Europe and Asia.
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