Volkswagen has unveiled an all-new sedan called the Phideon. This new model previews a new design language which is likely to be seen in future VW high-end sedan models. The Phideon is a Chinese market luxury sedan based on the same platform as the Audi A6.
Revealed on the eve of the 2016 Geneva Motor Show where it will make its pubic premiere, the 5,050mm long Phideon will go on sale in China in October, filling a niche previously occupied by the first-generation Phaeton.
Conceived to offer a number of advanced functions not previously available on any VW model, it will be positioned above the Chinese-market Magotan, a car closely related to the US-market Passat.
VW head designer, Klaus Bischoff, says the distinctive front end styling of the Phideon will heavily influence the look of future luxury models from the German carmaker, including the second-generation Phaeton. Appearing similar to the latest European market Passat, the Phideon was designed at Volkswagen’s main styling studio in Wolfsburg expressly for the Chinese market.
At 5,050mm 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 comes from a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine delivering 296bhp. As with the Audi A6 produced and sold in China, production versions of the new Volkswagen luxury sedan 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 Phidoen is also expected to be revealed at the Beijing Motor Show in April. The new Volkswagen sedan 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.
Greg Kable (Autocar UK)
Lenny D'sa
Saptarshi Mondal
Uday Singh
Viraaj Bhatnagar
