VW CEO Says Phaeton Will Return to the U.S.

Agreed - wow... I'm glad to hear it. I loved the car but hated the depreciation (witnessed, not experienced).

We have had a 2004 Phaeton sitting at our Dodge dealership for the better part of a year now. Nobody will buy the thing. I hope VW has better luck this time around...

"Wow; if at first you don't succeed..."

Except between what's been revealed about Volkswagen's new stateside strategy thus far and Mr. Jacoby's musings, I'm led to believe that Gen II won't be as brazenly aspirational.

Just when so many people talk about the Hyundai Equus and comparing it to the Pheaton....

If they could bring the Phaeton in anywhere close to the price of an Avalon, it would be a huge success. But, at twice the price of an Avalon, people expect more prestige and a higher level of dealership experience. Isn't a loaded Passat more expensive than an Avalon?

@top_hat

I read it as they are bringing an Avalon competitor AND a new Phaeton in the class above that.

Losing the Passat and getting some throwaway NA market model doesn't sound like a good thing to me :(

Hey, i've been looking to purchase a used Phaeton...seems like a lot of car for the money now....especially considering its less than the price of a decently equipped Passat

@compliance

They probably are doing Hyundai's strategy. They have the Azera, and gave us the Genesis as well. Both large, cushy sedans, but one with a more snazzy platform, with a hell of a lot more potential. Maybe VW will do the same, seeing as the Phaeton is on the same platofrm as the Bentley Continental. Hopefully, they will price it a bit smarter, while at the same time not de-valuing the Bentley and A8 families too much.

Hmmm...bringging back one of the markets most notorious failures...and why wouldn't the nest gen midsize VW sedan be called the Passat? Lets not make the smae mistake Ford did.

As long as they adjust the price accordingly, it should do fine.

I couldn't agree more with mustang5507. That is an excellent analysis.

I liked the Phaeton and was disappointed that it wasn't successful - not that I could have afforded to buy one anyway.

I just don't know why VW feels it should compete in this segment with this type of car at least in the U.S. A fully optioned Passat is expensive enough.

Dollar vs Euro. If the dollar gains strength, it will make European cars more affordable.

Americans still think of VW as the makers of the original Beetle. We haven't processed the idea of VW as a full-line automaker--and VW brass in Germany absolutely fail to understand the brand's image in the US.

In that context, the previous iteration of the Phaeton made about as much sense as a $100k Kia in this market.

Hyundai Azera is same grade with Toyota Avalon.

Hyundai Sonata = Toyota Camry
Hyundai Azera = Toyota Avalon

"Above the midsize new sedan, we'll have another product, like the Avalon for Toyota,"

So, Phaeton is Azera grade car.

Positives- I would argue that the 1st generation Phaeton had the finest interior of any luxury brand.
Exterior styling was clean and unadorned.
Fit and finish was top rate.

Negatives- Almost 5200 lbs. Crazy number in a modern automobile.
No attempt by VW to set the car aside from it's
lesser models.
Dealer reputation is substandard.

@ 31ejmfdz

"That's our strategy, to have a lineup ending with the Phaeton (luxury sedan). We will bring the Phaeton back to the market."

To me that says that they're going to try to do the same as Hyundai. The VW Passat starts at $28,300. The Azera starts at $24,970. The Avalon starts at $27,845. VW is trying to move the Passat up market with that pricing. The new and stunning CC costs about $1K less than the Passat.

Why would VW call the Azera / Avalon level car the Phaeton? That's the opposite Ford has done with Taurus, moving it from a family sedan to a almost luxury car. The Phaeton name should stay at the top market car.

It might make sense to call a Genesis-level car the Phaeton but not a Sonata / Azera level one... Sorry for all the Hyundai references, I Love the brand.

How is the maitenence - repair costs fro these things?
i am curious, i like the idea that it is essentially a Bentley, but is it very high to maintain like a Bentley?

Difference...
Hyundai is far more reliable than VW. Sorry. Phaeton looks really good inside and outside. If a car is priced at 80K, specially for german cars, it requires different dealership experience... People who buy German cars are very sensitives to superficial quotions. VW just can't sell cars without some A__-kissings.

Good plan, VW needs more models at more price levels. 1 rung up (Avalon/LaCrosse fighter) and 1 rung down (Yaris/Accent fighter). Given their success world wide with work trucks and vans, wouldn't it make sense to bring those here as well?