VW Phaeton

Volkswagen
VW Phaeton (2002-2007)
Phaeton
Production period:	2002-2016
Class :	Upper class
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engines : 3.2–6.0 liters (177–331 kW) Diesel engines : 3.0–5.0 liters (165–230 kW)
Length:	5055-5175 mm
Width:	1903 mm
Height:	1450 mm
Wheelbase :	2881-3001 mm
Empty weight :	2089-2598 kg
successor	VW Phideon (only in China)

The VW Phaeton was a four-door notchback sedan in the luxury class of the Volkswagen brand . The production was a joint project between the Volkswagen factory in Zwickau and the Transparent Factory in Dresden , where the final assembly was largely done by hand. From the start of production on December 11, 2001 to the end of production on March 18, 2016, 84,235 vehicles were built.

Origin of the model name

The Phaeton study was presented to the public at the IAA 1999 - at that time still with a hatchback - under the name " Concept D " . At the same time, the new V10 TDI diesel engine was presented for the first time . During development, the Phaeton was known under the project name “D1” - this is also the internal type designation for the first generation Phaeton.

Phaeton is the name of the son of the sun god Helios . As a model name, the name is not new. Phaeton used to be the name given to the construction method for open stately horse-drawn carriages , where the rulers themselves steered. This designation was later adopted for the open touring cars . After 1900 there was a Benz Phaeton . In 1915 the luxury vehicle manufacturer Horch brought a Phaeton onto the market. In the 1920s, the US company Packard manufactured a car called the Phaeton. In 1930 the manufacturer Škoda also had this model name. Following the tradition of the Audi forerunner Horch, this model name was chosen.

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  Rear view

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  Volkswagen Concept D at the IAA 1999 in Frankfurt

Characteristic

Model designation on the rear of the vehicle

The VW Phaeton has been on the market since May 2002. Since November 2002 it was also offered in a long version, which offered more legroom in the rear . Characteristic features of the Phaeton are its luxurious interior and the permanent all-wheel drive " 4Motion ". It has some technical features, such as:

• the self-luminous license plate ; (This has been replaced by a license plate light with light emitting diodes on successor models)
• the draft-free, individually adjustable climate control for each passenger
• the then highest ever reached torsional rigidity of a car - body
• a Bluetooth car phone with SIM Access Profile (advantage: no mechanical connection to the vehicle required)
• Adaptive cruise control with "environment monitoring" and active range from 0 km / h to 200 km / h (30 km / h to 180 km / h in the first series)
• Lane change assistant "SideAssist" (from GP1)
• Keyless access and start " Keyless Access " (special equipment)
• electric tailgate actuation (special equipment)
• LED - daytime running lights (from GP1)

The Phaeton's platform also serves as the basis for the Bentley Continental GT , Bentley Continental GTC , Bentley Continental Flying Spur and the Porsche Panamera . This platform is manufactured at the Volkswagen plant in Zwickau and delivered to Great Britain, where the three Bentley models are completed.

Engines and technical data

The last engines had permanent 4Motion all-wheel drive and Airmotion air suspension as standard . Earlier models were also offered with front-wheel drive and manual transmission, which forced the long front overhang. Alternatively, a four-seater variant and / or a version with an extended wheelbase was also available. The weakest engine - a V6 TDI - which was only released in 2004, caused the registration numbers to rise significantly and became the best-selling Phaeton model. The V10 TDI has not been offered since the 2006 model year - five years after its appearance - because it could not comply with the Euro 4 emissions standard that was applicable at the time and a diesel particulate filter would have been necessary. In conjunction with the V10 TDI, this does not fit under the Phaeton platform. The group management found an alternative solution to be too expensive. A particle filter system has been available for the V10 TDI since 2009, which causes the green particulate matter sticker to be issued for journeys in all environmental zones. The following information relates to the basic model.

Petrol engines

Phaeton	3.0 V6	3.2 V6	3.6 V6 FSI	4.2 V8			W12
Construction period	01/2013–03/2016	12 / 2001-10 / 2008	10/2008–04/2015	05 / 2003-10 / 2008	10/2008–04/2015	04/2015–03/2016	12/2001–05/2005	05/2005–01/2011
Motor series	VW EA390			?			VW EA398
Engine type	VR6 - gasoline engine			V8 gasoline engine			W12 gasoline engine
Displacement	2975 cc	3189 cm³	3597 cc	4172 cc			5998 cc
Max. power	184 kW (250 PS) at 6400 rpm	177 kW (241 hp) at 6200 rpm	206 kW (280 PS) at 6250 rpm	246 kW (335 hp) at 6500 rpm			309 kW (420 hp) at 6000 rpm	331 kW (450 PS) at 6050 rpm
Max. Torque	310 Nm at 3500 rpm	315 Nm at 2400 rpm	370 Nm at 3500 rpm	430 Nm at 3500 rpm			550 Nm at 3000 rpm	560 Nm at 2750-5200 rpm
Drive type, standard	Front wheel drive	Front wheel drive	All-wheel drive ( 4Motion )
Drive type, optional	-	All-wheel drive ( 4Motion )	-
Gearbox, as standard	6- speed automatic transmission	5-speed automatic transmission	6- speed automatic transmission				5-speed automatic transmission
landing gear	AIRMOTION air suspension
Acceleration, 0-100 km / h	10.2 s	9.4 s	8.6 s	6.9 s			6.1 s
Top speed	240 km / h	239 km / h	250 km / h	250 km / h (governed)
Fuel consumption over 100 km (combined)	11.6 l super	12.1 l Super Plus	11.4 l super	13.0 l Super Plus	12.5 l super	12.3-12.8 l super	15.7 l Super Plus	14.5 l Super Plus
CO 2 emissions, combined	276 g / km	288 g / km	265 g / km	310 g / km	290 g / km	289-297 g / km	374 g / km	348 g / km
Emission standard according to EU classification	-	Euro 4	5 euro	Euro 4	5 euro	Euro 6	Euro 4	5 euro
↑ Can only be ordered for the Chinese market. ↑ Initially standard with 6-speed manual transmission

Diesel engines

Phaeton	3.0 V6 TDI				V10 TDI
Construction period	09/2004 - 03/2007	03/2007 - 10/2008	06/2008 - 09/2013	09/2013 - 06/2015	11/2002 - 10/2006
Motor series	VW EA896	VW EA896	VW EA896 evo	VW EA897	VW EA188
Engine code	BMK	CARA	CEXA	CEXB	AJS
Engine type	V6 diesel engine ( CR ), VTG turbocharger				V10 diesel engine ( PD ), VTG turbocharger
Displacement	2967 cc				4921 cc
Max. power	165 kW (225 hp) at 4000 rpm	171 kW (233 hp) at 4000 rpm	176 kW (240 PS) at 4000 rpm	180 kW (245 PS) at 4000 rpm	230 kW (313 hp) at 3750 rpm
Max. Torque	450 Nm at 1400-3250 rpm	450 Nm at 1500-3500 rpm	500 Nm at 1500-3000 rpm		750 Nm at 2000 rpm
Drive type, standard	All-wheel drive ( 4Motion )
Gearbox, as standard	6-speed automatic transmission
landing gear	AIRMOTION air suspension
Acceleration, 0-100 km / h	8.8 s	8.4 s	8.3 s		6.9 s
Top speed	234 km / h		237 km / h	238 km / h	250 km / h (governed)
Fuel consumption over 100 km (combined)	9.6 l diesel	9.4 l diesel	8.5 l diesel (up to 2010 9.0 l)	8.5 l diesel	11.4 l diesel
CO 2 emissions, combined	259 g / km	248 g / km	(239) 224 g / km	224 g / km	308 g / km
Emission standard according to EU classification	Euro 4		5 euro		Euro 3

"Great product maintenance"

GP1

In March 2007 the revised version of the Phaeton was presented to the public. The first facelift (called "large product maintenance" (GP) at VW) included the following innovations:

• LED - daytime running lights
• dynamic and static cornering lights for the bi- xenon headlights
• DVD - navigation system
• New adaptive cruise control with “Follow-to-Stop” function and “Front Assist” environment monitoring
• Lane change assistant "Side Assist"
• Revision of the V6 TDI: performance increase to 233 PS, consumption reduction
• subtle optical retouching (chrome trim around front fog lights, cherry-red rear lights)
• Elimination of the V10 TDI engine

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  VW Phaeton (2007-2010)

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  Rear view

GP2

The second major product update (GP2) was available from November 2008:

• Multimedia navigation system with touchscreen and standard 30 GB hard drive for storing MP3 and WMA music tracks
• "Rear Assist" reversing camera
• Make-up mirror in the rear roof liner as standard with the extended wheelbase
• Ceramic brakes for W12 engine
• Revision of the V6 TDI: power increase to 175 kW, consumption reduction and approval according to exhaust emission standard (EURO 5)

GP3

The third major product update (GP3) was presented in April 2010 at Auto China 2010 in Beijing. The revised vehicle was officially offered as "The New Phaeton".

The changes are:

• Changed front section in the current Volkswagen design, parking lights and cornering lights in LED
• modified rear section with new LED taillights in "M-shape" (darkened from mid-2012)
• Dynamic high beam control " Dynamic Light Assist " (masked permanent high beam )
• Traffic sign recognition by multi-function camera in the interior mirror area
• LED fog lights
• Headlining available in anthracite color
• All-round painting
• new exterior colors "Serpentino Gray" and "Deep Black"
• modified steering wheel design
• Mobile phone connection also possible via hands-free profile (from model year 2014 with integrated SIM card reader)
• Radio navigation system RNS 810 with optional Google Maps expandable
• new 18-inch “Experience” alloy wheel in sterling silver
• Consumption reduction of the V6 TDI (8.5 l instead of the previous 9 l according to EU standard)
• Elimination of the W12 engine in mid-January 2011 (but still in production for China)

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  VW Phaeton (2010-2016)

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  Rear view

GP4

The fourth major product upgrade (GP4) was offered from model year 2014.

The changes were:

• modified front section with continuous chrome clasp
• Available from model year 2015 with Poltrona Frau Style leather interior
• new climate control in the rear (special equipment 5-seater; standard equipment 4-seater)
• new wood type poplar grain gray
• new leather seat cover "St. Tropez "
• Includes seat adjustment buttons with chrome trim
• Integrated telephone module with its own SIM card slot in the armrest
• WLAN hotspot (via special equipment "Premium mobile phone preparation")
• modified gear lever
• modified shift gate
• modified steering wheel design
• Conversion of license plate lighting to LED
• new indirect interior lighting based on LEDs
• new exterior colors "Purpure Silk" (model year 2014) and "Gentle Gold" (model year 2016)
• Performance increase V6 TDI to 180 kW
• Conversion of the V8 emissions standard to Euro 6 (model year 2016)
• Elimination of the 3.6 V6 FSI engine from 04/2015 (model year 2016)
• Elimination of the 3.0 TDI engine from 06/2015

Production numbers

A total of 84,235 Phaetons were built between 2001 and 2016.

year	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
number	371	3,403	5,885	5,485	6.001	5,024	5,711	6,189	4,071	7,477	11,166	10.190	5,812	4,061	2,924	452
source

New registrations / sales figures

Between 2002 and 2018, a total of 31,988 VW Phaetons were newly registered in the Federal Republic of Germany. With 3,211 units, 2005 was the most successful sales year. The new registrations each year were below those of the competitors Audi A8 / S8 , BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class .

Source: Federal Motor Transport Authority

The VW group originally wanted to sell 20,000 Phaetons a year worldwide. Sales of the Phaeton remained far below expectations over the entire production period.

Because sales were too low, VW stopped selling the Phaeton in the USA in the summer of 2006 after around 3,500 units had been sold. In 2007 a reintroduction was planned for 2009; the economic crisis until 2009/10 made these plans obsolete.

In China, the market for the Phaeton has developed positively. 1,400 new vehicles were sold there from January to October 2009, and 2,000 sales were expected in 2010. The high demand in Asia led to a 30 percent increase in production in 2010. This set a sales record of around 7,500 units.

Overall, the sales figures fell short of expectations. The Phaeton is one of the most loss-making car models in the recent past. The loss per vehicle sold is estimated at 28,000 euros.

End of production

Production of the Volkswagen Phaeton officially ended on March 18, 2016. Die Welt reported: “In the midst of the emissions crisis with its as yet unpredictable financial consequences, the top management around Matthias Müller pulled the rip cord. [...] If possible, an exhibition world on e-mobility would be desirable [for the Transparent Factory of Volkswagen in Dresden]. "

literature

• VW Phaeton, special edition by ATZ and MTZ , Wiesbaden, July 2002

Web links

Commons : Volkswagen Phaeton  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Official website

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Transparent factory is realigned: Showcase for electromobility and digitization is created , press release from Volkswagen AG on the end of production of the Phaeton, accessed on March 18, 2016.
2. ↑ Boris Schmidt: Phantom Phaeton: The failed luxury project from VW. In: FAZ.net . March 20, 2016, accessed March 20, 2016 . 
3. ^ MDR television on May 11, 2004 in Zwickau; Speech by Bernd Pischetsrieder (then VW CEO) at the festive event “100 Years of Automobile Manufacturing in Zwickau”; Quote: “… and the Phaeton, now under the Volkswagen brand, which is built in the body here in Mosel, incidentally: The internationality of this location is also evident in the fact that the body of the Bentley is built here, but keeping tradition does not mean to keep the ashes, but to keep the fire alive  ... ".
4. ↑ Broken neck due to Euro 4. Aus for VW Phaeton V10 TDI. at autobild.de, July 5, 2006.
5. ↑ B&B Automobiltechnik GmbH: Diesel Particulate Filter VW Phaeton V10 TDI (standard engine output)
6. ↑ The Phaeton. Technical data and equipment. Model year 2006
7. ↑ The Phaeton. Technical data and equipment. 2008 model year
8. ↑ The Phaeton. Technology and prices, valid for the 2012 model year.
9. ↑ ^{a b} The Phaeton. Technology and prices, valid for the 2016 model year.
10. ↑ Technical data VW China , accessed on January 24, 2016.
11. ↑ The truth lies in the Middle Kingdom. Article in Welt Online on June 13, 2010.
12. ↑ Peter Eck: The new VW Phaeton should finally be successful. Article in Welt Online from April 22, 2010.
13. ^ Website VW with standard equipment Phaeton ( Memento from October 4, 2013 in the Internet Archive ). Accessed June 11, 2013.
14. ↑ Standard equipment Phaeton ( Memento of October 4, 2013 in the Internet Archive ), VW website, accessed on June 11, 2013.
15. ↑ Phaeton Trimlevel Overview ( Memento from October 4, 2013 in the Internet Archive ), Volkswagen China, accessed on April 12, 2012.
16. ↑ ^{a b c} The Phaeton. Technology and prices, valid for the 2014 model year.
17. ↑ The Phaeton. Technology and prices, valid for the 2015 model year.
18. ↑ VW ends production of the Phaeton. In: stern.de . March 18, 2016, accessed March 20, 2016 . 
19. ^ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2001. (PDF) Volkswagen AG, March 12, 2002, p. 41 , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2015 . 
20. ↑ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2002. (PDF) Volkswagen AG, March 8, 2003, p. 76 , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2015 . 
21. ↑ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2003 (PDF) Volkswagen AG, March 9, 2004, p. 85 , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2015 . 
22. ^ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2004. (PDF) Volkswagen AG, March 8, 2005, p. 89 , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2015 . 
23. ↑ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2005. (PDF) Volkswagen AG, March 8, 2006, p. 39 , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2015 . 
24. ↑ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2006. (PDF) Volkswagen AG, March 9, 2007, p. 43 , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2015 . 
25. ↑ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2007. (PDF) Volkswagen AG, March 13, 2008, p. 81 , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2015 . 
26. ↑ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2008. (PDF) Volkswagen AG, March 12, 2009, p. 81 , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2015 . 
27. ↑ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2009. (PDF) Volkswagen AG, March 11, 2010, p. 91 , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2015 . 
28. ↑ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2010. (PDF) Volkswagen AG, March 10, 2011, p. 109 , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2015 . 
29. ↑ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2011. (PDF) Volkswagen AG, March 12, 2012, p. 113 , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2015 . 
30. ↑ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2012. (PDF) Volkswagen AG, March 14, 2013, p. 107 , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2015 . 
31. ↑ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2013 (PDF) Volkswagen AG, March 13, 2014, p. 25 , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2015 . 
32. ↑ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2014. (PDF) Volkswagen AG, March 12, 2015, p. 25 , archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2015 . 
33. ↑ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2015. (PDF) Volkswagen AG, April 28, 2016, p. 25 , archived from the original on August 21, 2016 ; Retrieved April 28, 2016 . 
34. ↑ zeit.de (2006): Expensive Phaeton
35. ↑ Due to failure: Phaeton-Aus in USA on focus.de, November 14, 2005
36. ↑ VW Phaeton: 2009 back to the USA ( memento from April 25, 2009 in the Internet Archive ), auto-motor-sport.de
37. ↑ VW in the Realm of Means on welt.de, November 21, 2009
38. ↑ VW Phaeton record sales: China ensures Phaeton boom on auto-motor-sport.de, January 26, 2011
39. ↑ Out for VW Phaeton: Production of prestige model expires - tagesschau.de . In: tagesschau.de . December 16, 2015. Accessed December 16, 2015.
40. ↑ [1]