Even though Volkswagen’s Audi has the full-size luxury A8 in its lineup the car maker decided to make one that would be sold under its own brand, so the first Phaeton concept was unveiled in 1999. The production car didn’t arrive until 2003, it was positioned as more of a luxury limousine offering that wasn’t light on tech. Now there’s a new one around the corner, with Volkswagen confirming today that the next Phaeton flagship will be electric.
This seems as right a time as any to make the announcement that the company’s next flagship is going to be an electric vehicle, Volkswagen is still caught up in its diesel emissions scandal which has already wiped billions from the company’s market value.
Volkswagen didn’t go into too many details about the new flagship though, but it did say that this is a redefined flagship that features “pure electric drive with long-distance capability, connectivity, and next-generation assistance systems” coupled with something it calls “emotional design.”
The first Phaeton didn’t do so well in the United States and VW ended up suspending sales in the country, however the car became a hit elsewhere, particularly in China where long wheelbase luxury passenger cars tend to do quite well.
Volkswagen hasn’t confirmed though when the new Phaeton will be unveiled and when it will hit the road.
Filed in . Read more about Electric Cars and Volkswagen. Source: cnet