Volkswagen is also using the Phideon to debut a new camera-based night vision system.
Advertisement
Called the Phideon, the new model is set to appear at Volkswagen’s stand at the Geneva Motor Show but will not serve as a direct replacement for the Phaeton.
Klaus Bischoff, the Design Head of Volkswagen says that the front styling of the Volkswagen Phideon will influence the design of future luxury cars made by Volkswagen, including the second generation Phaeton. It sits above the Passat at the top of Volkswagen’s range.
The Phideon is supremely spacious inside due to the its 118-inch wheelbase, giving Chinese customers a luxury cabin experience like that of the Mercedes S-Class or Audi’s A8L. The Volkswagen Phideon is definitively a China-only product, so don’t expect it to ever show up here in the U.S. The range-topping model will be powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with 300 PS (296 horsepower) and 347 lb-ft of torque, delivered to all four wheels via VW’s 4Motion drivetrain.
Volkswagen will also offer the new sedan with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol motor, and there are also plans for a plug-in hybrid version down the track. It even borrows Bentley’s active air suspension system, which comes with five different driving settings. “So much so, in fact, that Volkswagen’s email to us regarding Phideon said, “[The car] will not be coming to the US. As a finishing touch, the Phideon is also fitted with an electric soft-closing system for the doors. Other assistance systems include: adaptive cruise control; auto parking; lane-departure warning; lane-changing assistant; Light Assist (auto dips high beam) and a proactive occupant protection system which tensions the safety belts and closes the windows/sunroof.
It goes on sale in China in the third quarter of 2016.
Advertisement
Developed with VW’s Chinese partner SAIC, the 5m-long saloon is only destined for local-market sales – but the company admits it “debuts the new “face” of Volkswagen’s luxury saloons”.
