VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON Production, VW Phaeton Factory, VW Phaeton Assembly Line, Gläserne Manufaktur(Dresden, Germany)
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Engine petrol engines:
3.2 L VR6
3.6 L VR6
4.2 L V8
6.0 L W12 2004–2011
diesel engines:
3.0 L V6 TDI
5.0 L V10 TDI 2003–2007
Transmission 5-speed Automatic/5-speed Manual/6-speed Automatic/6-speed Manual

The Volkswagen Phaeton is a full-size (F-segment in Europe) luxury sedan/saloon manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen, described by Volkswagen as their "premium class" vehicle. Introduced at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show, the Phaeton was marketed worldwide. Sales in North America ended in 2006. Sales globally ended in 2016.

The name Phaeton derives from Phaëton, the son of Phoebus (or Helios) in Greek mythology, by way of the phaeton auto body style and the type of horse-drawn carriage that preceded it.

Production ended in March 2016 and an all-electric second generation was slated to be produced. Starting in April 2017, the Gläserne Manufaktur Dresden assembles VW e-Golf instead

The Phaeton was conceived by Ferdinand Piëch, then chairman of Volkswagen Group.[citation needed] Piëch wanted Volkswagen engineers to create a car that would surpass the German prestige market leaders, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The decision to release the Phaeton was, in part, a response to Mercedes' decision to compete directly with Volkswagen in the European marketplace with the low cost A-Class.

It was also intended to support the Volkswagen brand image. Although the Volkswagen Group already has a direct competitor in the full sized luxury segment, the Audi A8, the Phaeton was intended to be more of a comfort oriented limousine, like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Lexus LS, while the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series are more sport oriented.

Initial development of the Phaeton, given the internal project code VW611, began with Piëch giving his engineers a list of ten parameters the car needed to fulfill. Most of these specifications were not made known to the public, but a number of them were told to automotive reporters.

One of them was that the Phaeton should be capable of being driven all day at 300 kilometres per hour (186 mph) with an exterior temperature of 50 °C (122 °F) whilst maintaining the interior temperature at 22 °C (72 °F). Piëch requested this even though the Phaeton's top speed was electronically limited to 250 kilometres per hour (155.3 mph). Another requirement was that the car should possess torsional rigidity of 37,000 N·m/degree.

At the 1999 International Motor Show Germany, Volkswagen presented the Concept D, which was essentially a hatchback prototype of the Phaeton, with very similar design, V10 TDI engine, air suspension and all wheel drive.
Overview
The Phaeton's platform, the Volkswagen Group D1 platform, was shared with the Bentley Continental GT and Bentley Continental Flying Spur. Certain systems, such as the automatic transmission and some engines, are also shared with the Audi A8.

Compared to the Audi A8L 4.2 litre FSI quattro, the Phaeton is 545 pounds heavier but is still competitive with the lighter A8 in most driving tests, due to the Phaeton's increased engine power (335 hp versus 330) and a shorter axle ratio (3.65:1 versus 3.32).However, the weight gives the Phaeton considerably worse acceleration and poorer fuel economy compared to the A8.

The Phaeton had the longest wheelbase in the Volkswagen passenger car line.

Features
Development of the vehicle led to over one hundred individual patents specific to the Phaeton.[citation needed] Distinctive features include a draftless four zone climate system, and standard Torsen based 4motion four-wheel drive.

For high ride comfort, it introduced Adaptive Air Suspension with Continuous Damping Control (CDC)-(Skyhook suspension). The same suspension system, with firmer settings, was introduced in the technically similar Audi A8 in November 2002.

First Volkswagen with radar adaptive cruise control: automatic distance regulator (ADR).


Production
The Phaeton was hand assembled in an eco friendly factory with a glass exterior, the Transparent Factory (German: Gläserne Manufaktur) in Dresden, Germany. This factory had a capacity of producing 20,000 vehicles a year, and was planned to expand to 35,000 vehicles a year. It also assembled Bentley Continental Flying Spur vehicles destined for the European market until October 2006, when all assembly of the Bentley products was transferred to Crewe, England.

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