When it reaches the market on May 31, the Phaeton will be available either with a 241-bhp V6 engine (list price 56,200 Euro) or a W12 engine (list price 98,600 Euro). Phaeton offers a convincing blend of dynamic design and high-end technology, with new air suspension all round and new four-zone Climatronic air conditioning as standard equipment.
Starting today, Volkswagen is exhibiting its new large luxury saloon, the Phaeton, at the Auto Mobil International (AMI) motor show in Leipzig - its German première. Detlef Wittig, a member of the Volkswagen brand board of management, commented on this first appearance of the Phaeton before a German public as follows: “We have built up a luxury-car trilogy, so to speak, in this new automobile segment. It consists of the innovative new Phaeton, the highly specialised ‘glass factory’ in Dresden where it is built and a service program that is quite unique in the scope it provides. This trilogy will set new standards by the way in which it integrates the Phaeton’s advanced technologies into an unparalleled, customer-oriented service environment.”
Volkswagen will be offering the Phaeton on the occasion of its market launch on May 31 with a choice of two engines, a V6 and a W12. In the Phaeton V6, with list prices starting at 56,200 Euro, the 3.2-litre six-cylinder engine ensures a high standard of journey refinement; it develops 177 kW (241 bhp) and has a maximum torque of 315 Newton-metres. The Phaeton W12 (prices starting at 98,600 Euro) is notable for its exceptionally dynamic 6.0-litre twelve-cylinder engine, which is rated at 309 kW (420 bhp) and has a peak torque of 550 Newton-metres. The Phaeton W12 has 4MOTION all-wheel drive.
Detlef Wittig, commenting on the new Phaeton: “We have given it an individually styled, extremely strong bodyshell and ultra-modern engines, excellent air suspension all round, possibly the best four-zone air conditioning 
in the world and an interior that reaches the highest standards in every respect. This fascinating combination of features is bound to attract an enthusiastic group of customers. In this segment of the market progressive, convincing technologies and restrained but unmistakable design elements have always found a ready market.”
The Phaeton will establish new standards in many areas of the large luxury saloon market. Optimum safety is assured by such details as the highest-performance brake system in this segment (including ESP and brake assistance), eight airbags and active front-seat head restraints (AKS), together with a level of bodyshell rigidity that is also the best in its class. Like the entire power train and driveline, all the other relevant body components have been rated in terms of quality and safety for road speeds as high as 300 kilometres an hour.
Volkswagen has set equally new, high standards inside the Phaeton: the new four-zone Climatronic air conditioning has a separate control strip in the centre console. It is an automatic system that enables not only the driver and front passenger but also the left and right rear seat occupants to select the temperatures they prefer. A further significant advantage of the Climatronic system has not so far been available on any automobile on the international market: the cool or warm air reaches the desired point inside the car through outlets that open and close automatically, so that absolutely no unpleasant draughts can occur. The system also includes a moisture content monitoring function that prevents the windows from fogging over - a small but far from unimportant detail that is typical of this German manufacturer’s supreme new automobile.
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