Volkswagen PHAETON RANGE
The Improved Phaeton Range Moves
Volkswagen Onto A Higher Plane Of Luxury And Sophistication But Can It Really Do Battle With The Big Boys? By Andy Enright
Were now well used to the idea of paying over £30,000 for a Volkswagen. The impressive Touareg luxury 4x4 has broken that barrier well and truly, as has the Phaeton luxury saloon were looking at here.
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Of the two cars, its the Phaeton that has struggled to make an impression on the British market, but thats more to do with the fact that luxury saloon buyers are more badge-conscious than their 4x4 counterparts than any real failing in the product. Still,
Volkswagen havent given up. Recent improvements to the Phaeton line-up have seen the addition of rear parking sensors and satellite navigation with a colour screen at no extra cost as standard equipment. There are substantial price discounts on offer on the recently introduced 3.
0 V6 TDI model (arguably the pick of the range) and a power increase (from 420 to 450PS) for the range-topping 6.0 W12 4MOTION model. Maximum torque on this model is also boosted from 406 lbs ft (at 3,000 rpm to 4,700 rpm) to 413 lbs ft, developed over an even broader engine speed range from 2,750 rpm to 5,200 rpm. Both the 5.
0-litre V10 4MOTION and 6.0-litre W12 4MOTION models also now benefit from a new design of standard-fit alloy wheels 8.5J x 18 Innovation alloy wheels with 225/45 R18 tyres and anti-theft wheel bolts. The Phaeton is the brainchild of Dr Ferdinand Piech, the former Chairman of the Volkswagen Group who, until his retirement in 2002, seemed intent on expanding the number and scope of the Groups marques beyond all recognition.
SEAT,
Skoda,
Audi,
Lamborghini, Bugatti and
Bentley all came under the Volkswagen Group banner and models overlapped, ending up with some strange creations. A Volkswagen that looked like a Lamborghini was built, set a series of records and was then killed off. Now we have a Skoda thats bigger and better equipped than some
BMW 5 Series models, numerous Volkswagen and Audi models in direct competition and of course this £70,000 limousine that shares its badge with a £7,000 shopping trolley. To be fair to the Phaeton, the range kicks off at a more modest level with a range of five engines.
Initial buyers got a choice of either the top of the range 420bhp W12 or the entry-level 240bhp 3.2-litre V6, both in petrol form. More recently, a 313bhp V10 diesel engine (as seen in the Touareg luxury 4x4), a 4.2-litre petrol V8 and a 3.
0-litre V6 diesel have also been added to the line-up as well as a long wheelbase version. Whatever the engine choice however, its still difficult to see a Volkswagen costing over £40,000 making much of an impression on such an image-conscious market, especially when the profile looks so much like a stretched Passat.
"The Phaeton manages to make the Mercedes S-Class look a little old hat and gets the job done without the technological or stylistic affectations of the BMW 7 Series"
Set aside the badge snobbery and the Phaeton starts to make a case for itself. The 6.0-litre W12 model that represents the extreme of the model range is an astonishing thing insofar as it remains totally focused on the task of being a luxury car. This may at first sound a little odd, but consider how the sporting pretensions of Audi and BMW have affected their brief as luxury expresses in the often-knobbly low-speed ride of the A8 and the 7 Series.
The Phaeton makes no bones about the fact that its a plutocratic wafter, the chassis raising an unamused eyebrow should you attempt to hurry it through a corner. Although the all-wheel drive W12 can hit 60mph in 6.1 seconds and would run on to over 180mph were it not electronically restricted to 155mph, its key assets are its huge torque, its relaxed air and its silky ride quality. It takes a determined mindset to snap out of judging it as a Volkswagen and instead pitching it against the very best luxury cars in its class.
Can the Phaeton W12 really put a lick on the Mercedes S600 or the BMW 760i? Its a tough task, but the Phaeton certainly brings a fresh approach to the sector. The S-Class is usually identified as the best on this particular block, but the Phaeton manages to make the Mercedes look a little old hat and gets the job done without the technological or stylistic affectations of the 7 Series. The interior will be familiar to most Passat drivers, the layout of many of the controls being similar, but the materials quality is a league removed, the comfort features mind-boggling and the sheer space a distinct revelation. The five-speed automatic transmissions take up is so smooth that it comes almost as a surprise to see the view outside changing, your inner ear not registering the fact that the car has started rolling.
The adjustable damper settings vary between blancmange in the midday sun and merely soft, but high speed body control is always kept well in check. The air conditioning is exemplary, most of the airflow being directed through a set of mesh grilles on the top of the dashboard, providing effective temperature control without annoying draughts. There are vents on the fascia itself, and should you require a blast of air, wooden covers slide back automatically to reveal the vents beneath. Satellite navigation and ultrasonic parking sensors are just two of the features on the epic standards equipment list.
Rear seat accommodation is superb (even if you dont opt for one of the long wheelbase models), passengers getting their own air conditioning controls but legroom isnt quite as generous as in the long wheelbase versions of the 7 Series and S-Class. The standard V6 models feature a conventional three-seat bench, but the W12 comes as standard with two individual rear seats that can be electronically reclined. The attention to detail is impressive throughout the Phaeton. Revolutionary construction techniques at Volkswagens astonishing Dresden factory have resulted in panel gaps that are incredibly tight, paint thats as smooth as polished onyx and some interior features that have to be seen to be believed.
The V6 petrol feels a good deal lighter on its feet than the W12 and will accelerate to 60mph in 9 seconds. The smaller engine is a little buzzier and seems to make a less convincing case for itself. The entry-level 3.0-litre V6 diesel turns in the best fuel economy with 29.
4mpg but the stupendous torque of the 5-litre V10 diesel will make it the ultimate Phaeton in the eyes of some. Given that the 3.2-litre V6 car undercuts a Mercedes S320 and the W12 undercuts an S600, the value proposition appears reasonable, but we get back to the Phaetons central issue. Will buyers ever take Volkswagen seriously as a credible challenger to BMW, Mercedes and, indeed Audi? One suspects not.
Those brave enough to drop serious money on a Volkswagen will end up with a credible and supremely engineered product. That and the kudos amongst those that know that you werent bedazzled by the badge on the bonnet.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Volkswagen Phaeton range
PRICES: £41,490-£71,495 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 15 20
CO2 EMISSIONS: 259-374g/km
PERFORMANCE: [W12] 0-60mph 6.1s / Max Speed 155mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [3.2 V6] (combined) 23.2mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front/side and curtain airbags / ABS with ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE? Length/Width/Height, 5150/1903/1450mm
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