The VW Phaeton That Was Never Built
The brand’s massive shift towards electric mobility sealed the fate of the second-gen version.
It has been twenty years since Volkswagen first introduced the Phaeton. Making and selling the saloon was a new ballgame for the German automaker whose name literally deciphers as People’s (Volks) Car (Wagon). Entering a segment that caters only to the wealthy was something the brand had never done before. Not with its own branding on a vehicle, at least. And yet it undertook this challenge under the guidance of former Volkswagen Chair of the Board of Management, Ferdinand Piëch.
The first-gen Volkswagen Phaeton received four model enhancements, which were introduced between 2007 and 2014. Updates included features like a touchscreen infotainment system, carbon-ceramic brakes for the W12 variant, assist systems and a camera-based Dynamic Road Sign Display. And in 2010, the saloon received a significant facelift, which was well received by the Chinese market.
By the mid-2010s, the project “Phaeton D2” was ready to phase out the first-gen model. And what you see here are the first set of images of the second-gen Phaeton that Volkswagen has just released. Even by today’s standards, it looks like a proper Volkswagen. The attractive front and rear end, with chrome embellishments here and there, big wheels and a well-proportioned silhouette, are just some of the takeaways.
Even from inside the cabin, the Phaeton D2 looks thoroughly modern. Features included a digital instrument cluster, a large touchscreen infotainment system, touch-sensitive control on the steering wheel and the centre console, rear entertainment displays and two sunroofs.
So, why Volkswagen did not make a production-ready version of the Phaeton D2 and start manufacturing? In short, the shift towards electric mobility is to blame. In 2016, the Brand Board of Management decided that a “systematic re-alignment” of business focusing on electric mobility is vital. And because of that, the saloon was axed for good. But, the Phaeton did help Volkswagen make a mark in the luxury space. And its efforts are still visible in the form of Touareg and Arteon.
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