Volkswagen Confirms Second-Generation Phaeton for 2015
Volkswagen has announced a second-generation Phaeton saloon, set to launch in 2015 on a new modular platform shared with Bentley and Porsche.
Volkswagen has confirmed it will launch a second-generation Phaeton, aiming for a 2015 debut with an all-new platform and a return to the US market. The announcement came from R&D chief Ulrich Hackenberg during the Sao Paulo motor show, ending speculation about the future of Volkswagen’s luxury flagship.
The new Phaeton will be built on the Volkswagen Group’s modular MLB platform, which is designed for larger models across the group. This architecture, which combines aluminium and steel, is intended to reduce weight compared to the current steel-bodied Phaeton. The change should bring improved fuel economy and lower emissions, addressing one of the key criticisms of the outgoing model.
Volkswagen’s move puts the Phaeton on the same technical footing as the next Bentley Continental and Porsche Panamera, both of which will use the same MLB platform. This approach allows the group to share development costs and introduce new technologies across its luxury saloons. The company has not released specific details about engines or equipment, but the platform’s flexibility suggests a range of powertrains will be possible, including those focused on efficiency.
Phaeton returns to the US market
Volkswagen also plans to relaunch the Phaeton in the United States, after withdrawing the model in 2006 due to low sales and a poor market reception. The first-generation Phaeton struggled to compete with established luxury rivals, including its Audi A8 sibling, and never achieved the sales volumes Volkswagen had hoped for. The company is betting that the new platform and updated technology will help the next Phaeton find a stronger position in the segment.
The decision to continue the Phaeton line has raised eyebrows among industry analysts, given the model’s commercial difficulties since its 2002 launch. Volkswagen, however, sees value in maintaining a flagship saloon to showcase its engineering and technology at the top end of the range.
Aiming for improved efficiency and technology
While no technical specifications have been released, Volkswagen’s R&D chief said the second-generation Phaeton will feel “very new”, reflecting advances in the group’s technology since the original model. The shift to the MLB platform is expected to deliver a lighter, more efficient car, which could help address the previous model’s high running costs and emissions. The move also aligns the Phaeton with other group flagships, allowing Volkswagen to offer features and build quality on par with its luxury siblings.
A more detailed unveiling is expected closer to launch. For now, Volkswagen’s confirmation sets the stage for a new chapter in its luxury saloon ambitions, with the Phaeton returning to both European and US showrooms in 2015.
