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(Thu 21 Jun 07) Volkswagen's revised Phaeton luxury saloon will go on sale in the UK in September.
You would have to look hard to spot the differences between this car and the one on sale at the moment. The bonnet has been reprofiled, and there are changes to the lights, bumpers and air inlets. The hazard flashers don't look special, but for the first time in the Phaeton they light up during extreme braking to alert following drivers. All versions have four-wheel drive, and in a change to previous Phaeton policy most of them also have the long-wheelbase body, which offers an extra 12cm of rear legroom. Only the entry-level model has what was previously considered to be the standard wheelbase. The 330bhp 4.2-litre V8 and 444bhp six-litre W12 petrol engines remain as before, but there has been a change to the three-litre TDI V6 turbo diesel. It's now slightly more powerful than before, with a maximum of 230bhp, which leads to 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 146mph. The TDI is also the first Volkswagen engine to meet the forthcoming Euro V emissions regulations, which do not come into effect until 2009 and are largely concerned with limiting the output of particulates. As a 3.0 TDI, the Phaeton costs £37,995 in "short" form and £40,265 if you want the longer body. These are special prices, though, available at participating dealers and applicable only until December 31.
The permanent prices for the other cars are £56,042 for the 4.2 V8 and £74,272 for the 6.0 W12. Volkswagen Gallery Previous: Revised Mitsubishi Outlander Next: Jodie Kidd Unveils New Maserati |
