Volkswagen's S-Class Rival Gets Caught In Late Night Photo Shoot

Is it bad that I didn't know the Phaeton was still around?

they still sell it in Europe and Asia

Probably not, considering how rare it is over in the US.

Its not sold in America ANYMORE (you mean). And this vehicle could be making a return sometime soon because of the Equus. I was reading about this somewhere yesterday.

A poor mans Audi A8. I'll pass. If they are in the market to compete with Honda, Toyota, Ford, etc. then build a car that competes and meets/beats pricing. Nope, they give you an overpriced VW. Hyundai has the coding right offering something like the Genesis. Too bad VW still has their pricing models off the rocker.

Poor Mans A8 ?

You do know that the Engine {W12}, Transmission, GearBox and Most Hidden Running Gear on the Phaeton is exactly the same as in the BENTLEY Continental GT and Flying Spur ?

Idiot.

VW builds some of the most neutered cars on the planet.

So your saying unless the luxury car you have been building (or at least the flagship of) has not been around for eons then you don't qualify? Are you dense?

The A8 is only in its 3rd generation. Ronin was a phenomenal movie and 8 in that was amazing. Other than the movie I would say they have come a long way in their progress while Mercedes and BMW (S and 7 respectively plod along and modernize their current designs. While I'm sure they all have their strong points, I would not exclude Audi from the group. I personally put BMW as the performance end, MB as the soft luxury appointed end, and Audi smack in the middle. A little of both worlds.

204E60

Unfortunately those who know about Luxury and Quality and Heritage all Prefer the A8 to the S-Class.

Audi SELLS MORE, I repeat, SELLS MORE Medium and Large Luxury Vehicles in Europe than Mercedes Benz or BMW and that is a Fact that nobody can Deny.

So Unless you are going to tell me that the Escalade Loving Americans know more about heritage and Luxury than the People Who Manufacture the Vehicles you claim to know about, i suggest you be silent about Audi's position at the Top of the Automotive Ladder.

And Unlike the LS, the Audi is similarly priced to its MB and BMW Counterparts.

One of the most pointless car in the VW range.. S Class competitor ?? those VW folks are smoking something serious!!

Ha...ha...ha... First of all, this Phatom or whatever VW call it, Does NOT compete with MB S-Class, BMW 7-Series or the Lexus LS. In fact sales were so bad, they stop selling they in late 2008 or early 2009.

VW wanted to charge almost the same price for this Phaeton as the Audi A8, MB S-Class, BMW 7-Series or Lexus LS. I guess someone forget to tell VW April Fool was weeks ago.

Phaeton sells here in Middle East but seriously so far i have not seen more than 5 phaetons on the roads in all these 5-6 years. And it costs the same as A8. Who is going to buy a Phaeton when you can have an A8 for exactly same money?

Maybe VW is targeting Chinese market. That is one confusing market.

JUGNU

The Phaeton does better in markets where people aren't as brand conscious and the car is able to compete on it's own merits. The US is improving though, just look at the inroads Audi has made versus MB and BMW. In reality the Phaeton will never be able to compete as a luxury car in the US because there are few if any VW dealerships that are willing or able to pamper Phaeton owners the way luxury car owners should be. If VW sold Phaetons through Audi it competes directly against the A8 which is a similar but different car. Too bad because the Phaeton really is a fine car to own and drive.