German Car Zone

I was speaking to a journalist today and he mentioned a colleague has done an interview with some influential VAG people.

When the next VW Phaeton comes along... A car that many within VW believe was positioned wrong rather than being an alternative to a BMW or a Mercedes-Benz it should have been positioned ABOVE Them?
Which is what the next one will do.

Many or just one person?

If I was a VW shareholder I would be plotting a coup.

^

A VW model above 7er, S-class, A8, XJ, Panamera?

But they figured out Passat is too small for the US market - therefore US market will get a bigger VW model than Passat, and the new Phaeton ... which in this case makes sense only if it bigger than that bigger-than-Passat US model.

Piech got an ego boost now when VW acquired Porsche AG?

Waiting eagerly! Phaeton has been my favorite since day one! How pity, she was underestimated!

Great car / product, wrong brand ... like so many times with some other cars in the automotive history.

I'm not sure Mk2 will be more commercially successful than Mk1. Unless VAG is about to exercise a total brand engineering - using same platform across various brands. For how long? Since such move is very risky - since marketing has to be VERY precise ... and therefore positioning is very delicate, fragile - due rigidity, since there's no space for extra maneuvers (without interfering with other in-house brand).

Such formula is great if everything runs smoothly & perfectly ... but also : one problem means problem for all.

The issue regarding the Phaeton is that is surrounded by delusion - granted there is no denying the engineering precision which is leagues ahead from the current Audi A8. But the problem is they believe the car is a perfect rival to the S-Klasse , 7er etc in all areas which we know is inaccurate.

But heres the issue where does the Phaeton fit in amongst the Audi A8 and the Bentley and now the Panamera? They are too busy progressing because they could without even to stop and think if they should.

Amazing. VW can't possibly think they can sell a car above the S-Class and 7-Series and bring this car back to the U.S. What is going at VW?


M

What it seems VW has a goal to overtake Toyota in US market ... Therefore they started to offer US-specific products (like eg, that failed van based on was it Chrysler?), and will do it even more: they announced they would build a factory in US, where a US specific sedan will be built. Passat won't be sold in US market, but that new car (larger than Passat) will be sold there instead. And they are developing a new Phaeton - which I guess - will be larger than that US-specific VW new sedan. Meaning: Phaeton will indeed be a LARGE car, and perhaps also priced above A8, 7er , and even s-class. Not need to mention LS, XJ & Panamera.

Again they are doing the same mistake ... VW can't offer products in premium segments. VAG has enough premium brands in portfolio to do that job (Audi, Porsche, Bentley, Bugatti) - absolutely no need for VW to be there as well.

But ... That's Piech's obsession ... and his warrior (Martin Winterkorn) is the CEO of VAG (and now also the Porsche SE !!!) ... so be sure Piech's dreams will be realized again. Another super-duper Bugatti model, more "premium" VWs, Audi sports cars over Porsche sports cars etc.

Remember the Piech's move: when he put VW, Skoda, Bentley & Bugatti in one box (premium box), and Audi, Lamborghini & Seat in the other box (sporty box). What a delusion!

Sorry to say that ... but Piech is like Adolf H. ... a fierce mad man with strange grandiose visions & goals, with oddly huge charisma attracting oddly a lot followers. And with this move now (Piech's victory over Porsche clan) is analog to H's appointment as Chancellor. Piech EGO is now bigger than universe, and he will not be stopped. Until the bitter end. I hope at least the Qataris will be bold enough to stop him. Otherwise Piech will do to VAG what Schrempp did to DaimlerBenz: transforming a mighty one into a crippled one.

Firstly VW are not trying to overtake Toyota in the US but infact the whole globe in sales from the entire Group.

Secondly you see how easy it is for a Rumour from which a journalist has stated VW positioned the Phaeton to low can be so far from the truth (which infact we don't even know).

I believe the Phaeton will be based on the new MLP platform which as you may or may not know goes from A4 to Mulsanne sized vehicles.
The Phaeton will most likely be positioned in size between the SWB and LWB 2010 A8 and be more value orientated think Lexus LS series.

The Routan was also going to be a stop gap until the Chattanooga plant comes online with which VW are planning to build & develop their owner 7 seat entrant.

Piech does have an ego but with MW at the helm I don't think VAG will go downhill as MW is a very competent manager as we've seen with his Audi work.

What is even more funny is how BMW is so concerned with what VW is going to do next. Or wait, maybe just its "creative marketing", not the real BMW.

^

You're now being a bit paranoid. Seeing CM conspiracy everywhere.

Learn to differ my personal opinion from CM stuff. Try harder. If some can do it, I'm sure You'll be able to do it as well.




And the discussion here in this thread is about Volkswagen, not BMW & CM - so stop.

Look at the latest phaeton's post - where he addresses & debates the topic. Learn something from that!