Volkswagen Phaeton may come back to the U.S. as a diesel

Posted: Sep 16, 2009
Filed under: Hybrids, Green News, Industry News, Volkswagen

Speaking to the press at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Volkswagen Group of America’s CEO, Stephen Jacoby, said that the company is considering bringing back the Phaeton luxury sedan back to the United States with a diesel powertrain. He said that Volkswagen is eager to reverse the decision to pull the slow-selling $70,000 plus sedan from the U.S. market.

“I have to admit that it was a mistake to take this car out of the market,” Jacoby said. “We think that the Volkswagen brand is a good place for this. We are looking at various alternatives for the re-launch of Phaeton.”

He said that during the Cash for Clunkers program, there was a strong demand for diesel and that a diesel Phaeton might work as a high-tech, fuel-efficient sedan in the U.S., reports Automotive News.

We’re guessing pricing will remain around $70,000 or will go up even more. Launched in 2003, Volkswagen sold just 1,939 units of the Phaeton in 2004 before yanking it from the market by 2007.

- By: Omar Rana

Share |  Email  Print |

Tags: , ,



  • You can find wicked deals out there on old models. I actually spotted one on the road yesterday! http://twitpic.com/hu516
  • zermatt
    Less than 3,300 Phaetons were sold in 4 years at a time when luxury was considered to be a good thing and European land yachts were selling well.

    Now as we head into the tax the crap out of families with decent incomes and shame anyone that desires anything nice era, VW wants to re-introduce a car that sold miserably?

    Diesel or not, this would be a bad move.
blog comments powered by Disqus