Volkswagen’s Phaeton has long been pegged as the answer to a question nobody asked. The car cost as much as its luxury brand rivals but came with a humble VW badge, mundane styling, plus poorer dynamics and a much heavier chassis than its Audi A8 cousin. However, none of this hasn’t stopped execs from VW establishing plans for a successor.

New reports from Germany reveal that VW could be losing as much as €10,000 on each Phaeton it sells and that there could be a delay in the development of the second-gen model. Officials have told AFX reporters that everything is on schedule but were unwilling to give a concrete date for the car’s debut.

Latest reports suggest production for the new model will start in late 2010 with the first customer cars set to go on sale early the following year. However, the source revealed that no decision had been made on whether to use the larger A8/Bentley platform or move to the smaller A6 architecture. The only confirmation so far is that the new car will be built at the unique glass factory at Dresden where the current model is built.

Source: - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

What's the point of using the A6 architecture? I don't think the new Phaeton is going to sell better if it turns out smaller.

Well, it makes perfect sense. They learned that they can't compete with the big boys (MB S-Class, BMW 7er, Audi A8) so they have to go downmarket with the next Phaeton.

No it does not make sense at all basing the Phaeton on A6 platform.
Reason it would be too close to Passat and New 4dr coupe.

BTW the article should mention how much VW actually profit when they put a Winged B on the front I'm 100% sure this makes up for losses + more

Although the Phaeton is great car, this is just another reason to drop it and concentrate on making the next A8 even better.

Well, actually I think they should drop the whole car from the lineup but if they still decide to make a Phaeton II, downmarket is the way to go.

Drop the Phaeton noooooooooooo

Seriously now that VW can profit over Bentley Continental family, its easier for VW to base the Phaeton on next gen platform without too much extra costs.
The factory & 1st gen Phaeton platform took all the costs

I know where you guys are coming from but it isn't a complete failure.

Well when you think about it, none of it has ever made any sense really. They might not even call the next generation model a "Phaeton" anyway, but going downmarket does make the most sense if they want to play with Audi/MB/BMW. Using the A6 chassis would make the car cheaper and sales would be greater. This Passat Coupe, while being mildly attractive from some angle in spy pics, doesn't really make sense either. VW and this whole "we're upmarket" kick is just plum nuts IMO. They need to concentrate on making the Golf/Rabbit/Passat/Jetta cheaper without loosing their upmarket flair.

As you know I see the Phaeton as a brilliant car, but it had the wrong badge, price, purpose, reason for being etc. etc.

M

The question needs to be asked, "What's the point of an expensive Volkswagen?"

I respect the Phaeton but a successor model is just silly IMO.

Volkswagen used to stand for an affordable people's car. Nowadays, in Germany and elsewhere, they're charging prices that are making people go over to Japanese, Korean or other European brands (Renault etc.).

Seat and Skoda have taken over where Volkswagen has left. Volkswagen nowadays has lost its reputation for value, especially in Germany (and other parts of Europe I imagine).