Currently reading: Sao Paulo motor show 2012: New Volkswagen Phaeton confirmed

The next Phaeton will share its platform with the next-generation Bentley Continental and Porsche Panamera

An all-new Volkswagen Phaeton is in the firm’s production plan, R&D chief Ulrich Hackenberg has confirmed at today's Sao Paulo motor show.

The new Phaeton has never been a commercial success in its 10 years on sale. But VW is intent on replacing the model, which is the flagship of its range.

Hackenberg said the new Phaeton would feel “very new”, a reference to how far the VW Group’s technology has moved on since the Phaeton’s launch.

He also revealed it would be underpinned by the new modular MLB platform for larger models in the VW Group, underpinnings which will also be used beneath the next-generation Continental family from Bentley and Panamera family from Porsche.

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The Volkswagen Phaeton’s decade-old platform needs more than a tweak to be a success in the luxury car market

Mark Tisshaw

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Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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Andrew Lee 24 October 2012

Big in China?

Or just VW saving face?? It will need to look like a stretched/more dramatic CC to stand a chance (especially up against an A8).

Leslie Brook 24 October 2012

.

I love cars that are unpopular and depreciate badly. I bought a Skoda Superb with a 2.0 litre petrol engine. Because it wasn't the diesel that everyone else wants it was peanuts and had turned less than 6000 miles a year. If I'd gone for a diesel it would have had three times the miles on the clock as an ex mini cab or cost twice as much.

A Phaeton would definitely have been on my radar if my budget was larger. I have read though, that due to it's unpopularity parts supply can be an issue, with some cars being off the road for a month or more awaiting a relatively minor part. Of course VW do provide a courtesy car, but it's usually a Polo...

6th.replicant 23 October 2012

So, VW will commit to

So, VW will commit to building another loss-making limo that no-one buys but won't greelight the Bluesport, which punters do want to buy. Eh??!!