First Look At The Next VW Phaeton. After Its History, WHY Would You Make Another?

Since we started AutoSpies.com in 2002, we've reported on some great rides, some not so great ones and ones that might have been good but were rejected by the marketplace.

Three that come to mind that must have looked brilliant on paper in the boardrooms are the Mercedes R-class, BMW GT Turismo and the VW Phaeton.

But for today's article we are going to focus on the VW Phaeton.

A "certain friend" of AutoSpies.com in Germany floated this photo of the supposed next gen version of the car today.

We don't have to go into much detail about the original Phaeton because the entire world knows although it was a nice car, it flopped miserably.

And isn't it funny and coincidental that the ONLY media outlet that predicted it WOULD flop PUBLICLY was AutoSpies.com.

Our exact quote in our first review was "VW's Phaetal Mistake".

I'd love to tell you that the major auto media outlets weren't SMART enough to predict it but that would be untrue.

They just did what they do BEST and that is to KEEP QUIET because YOU DON'T matter to them.

All they car about are the AD DEALS and the REGAL treatment they receive from the manufacturers in return for them zipping their lips.

Here is an exact quote from an old time glossy auto mag writer from a recent press trip I was on...

When I asked them how do they review a car they don't like or that they think will be a flop without offending the manufacturer, the answer was quick and simple...We just state the facts. End of story.

Our promise is that we'll NEVER do that to you.

We started this company based on ONE overriding philosophy.

To PROTECT car buyers everywhere,

We will NEVER sell our out our opinions no matter how many benefits are put in front of us.

NEVER. EVER. EVER.

YOU made us what we are today and we want to have a 20th and 30th and 40th anniversary.

So we will always be on your side as long as I own the place.

Now back to the discussion about the next gen VW Phaeton.

I must admit we are extremely puzzled WHY they would ever bring another one back to market after the results with the first one.

No matter HOW good it was or HOW good the next one will be.

If I were VW, I would make a great RWD 3-Series killer (easier said than done). WAY more upside brand wise and potential sales wise than a large luxo-boat.

How do you feel about this?

Spies, discuss...

Also, tune in tomorrow afternoon at 3PM PT for a GRAND announcement.

85bmw745i - 12/9/2011 10:05:14 PM

+5 Boost

The only problem with VW making a rwd 3 series killer is that it will also be an Audi A4 killer. They need to offer this car with a V6 diesel and AWD and a mid 30's to mid 40's price tag and It will be a great competitor to Lexus, Buick, Genesis etc. not to mention performance will be on par albeit with far greater fuel economy. That would help prevent it from failure like the first phaeton, despite how great of a car it was.

kuvakas1 - 12/9/2011 10:07:28 PM

+4 Boost

Odd, I can't even think of one magazine that didn't call the Phaeton exactly what is was...a big mistake...from the get-go. A little self-serving here, aren't we? Claiming to be the only publication that stated the painfully obvious when everyone else was doing the same does not help in the credibility department!

Agent001 - 12/9/2011 10:22:59 PM

+2 Boost

Show me ONE quote from a major auto outlet besides us saying it was a mistake in their first reviews.

Not a year after or two years after, in an initial review.

001

LACMAN - 12/10/2011 6:33:26 PM

+2 Boost

001, (ONCE AGAIN!...) guess I need not go there! Any how, the Phaeton is/was NOT a mistake. See "design/flagship exercise". Don't see any difference in the Phaeton than the Genesis or Equus. It's a "because we know we can" type of build. I see Phaeton's running about (though not that frequent) here and there. I believe there is a market for anything/everyone these days...

Joe_Limon - 12/11/2011 12:36:12 PM

+1 Boost

Genesis/Equus doesn't interfere with the sales of any of Hyundai's other vehicles. For VW it interferes with Audi, and when people have the choice of getting the same car but with a better badge name behind it.. well you know how this thing sold.

B7FAN - 12/9/2011 10:11:35 PM

+3 Boost

HOW PASSAT CC-ISH OF THE NEW PHAETON!!!!

FromThePassengerSeat - 12/10/2011 12:24:09 AM

+1 Boost

I thought they'd learned their lesson. The Phaeton will compete with the Audi A6 or A8, so why make another? The first provided the platform for the Continental, but I doubt this will have any use. Stupid move on VW's part.

Joe_Limon - 12/11/2011 12:37:45 PM

-1 Boost

hehehe I notice you have an combustible italian car as your picture. Why? I thought you liked only japanese vehicles? Or do you also like "under engineered" vehicles as well?

Joe_Limon - 12/12/2011 2:27:56 PM

0 Boost

As long as you keep calling yourself that, I have a hard time separating your persona from many of the other Jap fan boys on this site. I do try however, in my mind you hold a more insightful/educated then the others.

Joe_Limon - 12/12/2011 2:28:17 PM

0 Boost

insightful/educated opinion*

PUGPROUD - 12/10/2011 6:17:39 AM

+1 Boost

Its quite simple why a second generation is being made. The idea and driving force behind this car has and is Ferdinand Piech. The man's ego knows no bounds...his grandfather was Ferdinand Porsche, he ran Porsche racing with multiple victories at LeMans, he left Porsche to turn VW around, he is swollowing up Porsche who dared to make a takeover run at VW. While these are all great accomplishments he is one tough, autocratic son of a bitch who answers to no man but himself. He cannot accept critics who have said this car is a mistake, a failure. He will introduce ten generations of this car if necessary until he gets it right or until he dies, which ever comes first.

JUGNU - 12/10/2011 9:17:21 AM

+3 Boost

The car has very limited market but VW is no stupid.
It is just that it is very easy to make/prepare a Phaeton for a giant like VW. The chassis is same as Bentley Continental, engines are shared with A8(now Continental series will also get the Audi's new 4.0 TT). So VW is not making much money but is also not loosing anything. So i say why discontinue it, VW should keep making Phaeton.

Now if they are serious about making Phaeton a success, than they have to find a way to make it attractive as the traditional buyers of this category will always take A8 over Phaeton. Maybe hybrid only range or 300kph top speed, some exclusive features and technology...etc.

knowitall1985 - 12/10/2011 11:16:52 AM

+1 Boost

It's not just about the car. It's about the dealership's image and service. People don't want to go to a VW dealer to have their 80k car serviced. They don't take care of people like Lexus and Mercedes. That is why Hun-Day won't compete in the Luxury market.

TheGenius - 12/10/2011 2:59:57 PM

+2 Boost

There is a saying ignorance is bliss and it is so true. With the internet at everybody's disposal it's a shame how much ignorance is out there. Do you guys ever leave the country? The Phaeton was pulled out of the US market because it (not surprisingly) failed here, but it has been on sale in other markets since then so what's the noise about if they plan to upgrade it? Shouldn't cars on sale be upgraded every few years?????

pepito66 - 12/10/2011 4:30:52 PM

+1 Boost

This is a great car and is true this share a lots of thing from Bentley, so there are different colors for differents taste and the real prove is that people buy all that is moving on the street examples Nissan Juke , Nissan Cube and all other weird and ugly thing.

pepito66 - 12/10/2011 4:31:20 PM

+1 Boost

gabegr75 - 12/10/2011 5:24:41 PM

+2 Boost

I believe its being redesigned for the Chinese market since 70% of these autos were sold in China last year (2500+).

CarCrazedinCali - 12/10/2011 8:26:49 PM

0 Boost

Looks like the S Class

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 12/11/2011 3:38:11 AM

+1 Boost

Funny thing is I would always buy a Phaeton before i would a Lexus LS460/600h.

There are a few of these vehicles being driven around in the UK and Europe and like somebody said "China"

Just because something does not sell well in the USA does not make it a complete flop.

VW, Just like with Bugatti, can afford to build this car and not lose too much sleep over it, as time goes by people will talk more and more about that VW that had such Luxury and Quality that it could rival S-Classes and 7-Series.

JUGNU - 12/11/2011 10:44:58 AM

+3 Boost

ok but the big question is why one should pick it over Audi A8? Remember it costs almost the same as A8 so price cannot be the reason.

610looper - 12/11/2011 6:46:04 PM

+2 Boost

Why buy an LX vs Land Cruiser or GX vs 4Runner or RX vs Highlander or ES vs Camry or CT & HS vs Corolla and Prius?

atc98092 - 12/11/2011 7:01:48 PM

+2 Boost

I suppose I could be wrong(!) but I believe the Phaeton was only unsuccessful in the US, but was (and is) a reasonably popular car in Europe. For the US, it was just way too expensive. My dealer used one once to drive me to another location to look at a car for my daughter. I would have taken the Phaeton in a minute, but the price was just too much. As has been said elsewhere, for what VWoA was charging, you are into BMW, Mercedes, and even approaching slightly used uber-premium cars. No way VW can pull that off here.

As someone mentioned earlier, if it can be priced (in the US) under $50k, then I think it would stand a chance, especially with a diesel.