“The new Phideon, with its flowing and yet precisely drawn lines, exudes the highest presence. The progressive design corresponds to the high level of its technical innovations,” said Bischoff.
At 5050mm long, 187mm wide and 1480mm tall, the Phideon is a mere 5mm shorter, 35mm narrower and 30mm higher than the standard wheelbase Phaeton.
Power for the four-wheel-drive Phideon on show in Geneva this week comes from a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine delivering 296bhp and 295lb ft of torque.
As with the Audi A6 produced and sold in China, though, production versions of the new Volkswagen luxury saloon will also offer the choice of front-wheel drive and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.
A petrol-electric hybrid powered variant of the upmarket Phideon is also expected to be revealed at the Beijing motor show in April.
The new Volkswagen rides on a chassis closely related to the Audi A6. Chinese buyers will be able to choose between a standard steel sprung or option air suspension – the latter offers five different driving modes.
The Phideon is described as Volkswagen’s most advanced production car to date. It has a host of technical features brought over from the Audi A6 and its larger A8 sibling, with which it shares its electrical architecture. Included is a head-up display unit, camera based night vision, an area view system with four wide angle cameras to allow ease of manoeuvrability in tight spaces, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning, as well as a host of new features providing smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink.
The Phideon will be produced in Shanghai, at the manufacturing base of Volkswagen’s Chinese market joint venture partner the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. Despite competing in a class currently unoccupied by any Volkswagen model in the UK, Wolfsburg officials say there are no current plans to establish sales of the new luxury sedan here.
Read more Geneva motor show news
Join the debate
Klein
Let's call it a Passat Carat
Klein
Let's call it a Passat Carat
Norma Smellons
Phideous
Losing $3bn on the last giant Passat has taught VW nothing. They think that they're right and reality is in error; a peculiarly German trait.
Worked with the 911, worked with the Golf, works with football. Didn't work with the last two World Wars, the Euro and won't work with this. But that won't stop them trying.
They'll lose billions again and return in 2030 for another crack with - you've guessed it - another giant Passat. But people don't want giant Passats. Not even the Chinese. Deal with it.
Cyborg
Teutons
You're right on there.
Cyborg
abkq
This certainly looks more
Cyborg
VW
Cyborg
5wheels
@ Norma
what's life without imagination
5wheels
Time to wake up.
what's life without imagination
275not599
I am carrying a torch for
bezor Ta
reality is in error; a peculiarly German trait???
Dan
Add your comment