Volkswagen Unveils Second-Gen Phaeton That Never Was
The late Volkswagen Phaeton was the most technologically advanced and most luxurious car the German brand had ever launched. Its farewell came in 2016 when management decided to discontinue the sedan in favour of a systematic re-alignment with a focus on electric mobility. However, a successor with the project name “Phaeton D2” was already waiting in the wings.
That model, obviously, never made it to production, but guess what? Volkswagen is now showing it to the world as a celebration of the Phaeton’s 20th anniversary.
“The car still has a very attractive appearance and beautiful proportions, and it impresses with its tangible high quality and value,” says Jozef Kabaň, Head of Volkswagen Design.
The drivable, one-off Phaeton D2 was preceded by an internal selection process to choose from four different concepts. Based on the modular longitudinal matrix (MLB) architecture, it looks pretty much production-ready and is larger than the original Phaeton.
When you look at the exterior, the front end displays much more character with sharper-looking headlights, a larger grille, additional creases on the hood and a lower bumper that emphasizes the D2’s wide stance.
The side profile is sleeker and more aerodynamic, while the rear section reminds us of the Audi A8 from recent years. Volkswagen makes no mention of the engine that would have powered this new Phaeton, but its predecessor was last seen with a 3.6-litre V6 under the hood.
Inside, the evolution is quite spectacular. In fact, you could argue the Phaeton D2 was ahead of its time. Just from the pictures, you can tell material selection is vastly improved. Unsurprisingly, a digital instrument panel and a large, driver-oriented touchscreen are part of the mix. Also, take a look at the weird gear selector on the console.
Each of the two rear passengers gets their own multimedia display, while a centre console with climate and seat controls lies between them. The seatbacks are reclined to maximize comfort and relaxation.
The Phaeton may be long gone, and the Arteon and Passat are no longer available to order in Canada, but an electric midsize sedan inspired by the ID.Aero concept will fill the void sometime in 2024. Range is currently estimated at 620 km based on the WLTP test cycle used overseas. A more realistic figure for North America would be just over 500 km.