The Volkswagen Phaeton luxury saloon has been pulled from the British car market after 13 years on sale. A replacement is in the works, however, and is anticipated for launch during the second half of 2017.
Volkswagen first released the Phaeton in Britain all the way back in 2003. A rival to the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series, the Phaeton had more understated styling compared to other luxury saloons. There has only ever been one generation of this car, although it has undergone a couple of major facelifts and had numerous engine line-up changes since its debut.
According to Volkswagen, the main reason for the Phaeton’s withdrawal from Britain is the imminent arrival of Euro 6 emissions legislation. The current Phaeton would not be compliant with this stricter regulation (which all new cars on sale must follow), unless the engine range was updated. Just before its withdrawal, the Phaeton was only available with one engine, a 3.0-litre V6 diesel.
According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), only 31 Phaeton models were registered in Britain last year, compared to 107 in 2013.
Despite just receiving the chop, the Phaeton’s absence already looks to be temporary, with Volkswagen working on its replacement. A successor to the Phaeton is reportedly already close to being production ready and is due to be launched in the second half of 2017. Europe is expected to be one of the first areas to receive the Phaeton’s successor, along with China where the original has proven very popular.
Details on the Phaeton’s replacement are very limited at the moment, but it’s expected to be offered with an all-new V8, a W12 petrol engine from Bentley and a TSI V6 petrol-electric plug-in hybrid powertrain.
