Volkswagen Phaeton Long Wheelbase Range Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Volkswagen Phaeton long wheelbase range
Prices: £46,610-£75,395 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 18 -20
Emissions: 239-374g/km
Performance: [W12] 0-60mph 6.1s / Max Speed 155mph
Fuel Consumption: [3.0 TDI] (combined) 31.44mpg
Safety: Twin front/side and curtain airbags / ABS with ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE? Length/Width/Height, 5270/1903/1450mm

NO LONG PHACES HERE

Our Rating: 7.3 / 10

For those who can never have too much of a good thing, Volkswagen present the Phaeton Long Wheelbase range. Andy Enright reports

There’s something about the Volkswagen Phaeton that’s so synonymous with New Europe. The astonishing Dresden factory in which it’s built has become a symbol of nascent Eastern power and the Phaeton itself is a refreshing alternative to the usual Mercedes and BMW choices that now seem so ‘old money’. The plutocrats who really control the finances of the swollen European Union may well be looking upon the Phaeton long-wheelbase with barely disguised envy and checking their car allowances.

This, after all, is a car that says all the right things for any European Commissioner looking for their next set of wheels. The very title ‘Volkswagen’ promotes the fact that you’re a man or woman of the people, weighing in with a little less ostentation than many prestige badges. The Phaeton itself, while featuring class leading engine technology and supreme comfort, even looks agreeably close to a Passat to deflect any suspicion that you’ve got your snout in the trough. What’s more, the long wheelbase body coupled with your chauffeur allowance means that you can settle in the back and relax with a copy of Das Bild en route to the airport.

There are two different models from which to choose. The LWB range opens at well under £50,000 for the 3.0-litre V6 TDI and the line-up tops out with the W12 6.0-litre. There is no better way of disguising your avarice than a Phaeton W12 LWB. With the extra 120mm discreetly massaged into the car’s wheelbase, you get the benefit of that Club Class seat pitch without looking like a member of a rap star’s entourage. The longer chassis isn’t the only benefit of opting for the long wheelbase version of Volkswagen’s finest. A rear console for operation of the 4Zone electronic climate control is included and there are also rear side window sunblinds, an electrically operated sunroof and for added discretion, a rear screen sunblind. The car can be specified as a standard five seater or, should you so wish, a four seat configuration.

The 6.0-litre W12 model that represents the extreme of the model range is an astonishing thing insofar as it remains totally focused on the task of being a luxury car. This may at first sound a little odd, but consider how the sporting pretensions of Audi and BMW have affected their brief as luxury expresses in the often-knobbly low-speed ride of the A8 and the 7 Series. The Phaeton makes no bones about the fact that it’s a plutocratic wafter, the chassis raising an unamused eyebrow should you attempt to hurry it through a corner. Although the all-wheel drive W12 can hit 60mph in 6.3 seconds and would run on to over 180mph were it not electronically restricted to 155mph, its key assets are its huge torque, its relaxed air and its silky ride quality.

We’re looking here at the revised version that features more changes than you might think from a casual glance. Inside, revised touchscreen satellite navigation and climate control systems feature as standard as part of a redesigned centre console, alongside a refreshed instrument cluster and multifunction display. A ‘Side Scan’ blind-spot monitor is now available as an option on the Phaeton for the first time, building on the already extensive list of safety equipment fitted to the vehicle. This technology monitors the area next to the vehicle and acts as a lane changing aid with an audible alert and a small warning lamp in the wing mirrors to warn of the danger of collision. Subtle design tweaks have also been made to the exterior, including a revised front grille featuring a three-dimensional Volkswagen roundel.

Despite all this technical excellence, it takes a determined mindset to snap out of judging this car as a Volkswagen and instead pitching it against the very best luxury cars in its class. Can the Phaeton W12 really put a lick on long wheelbase rivals such as the Mercedes S600L or the BMW 760iL? It’s a tough task, but the Phaeton certainly brings a fresh approach to the sector. The S-Class is usually ident