Cheaper VW Phaeton Under Consideration for US
As Volkswagen mulls over its plans to bring the Phaeton back to the U.S., the German automaker is considering a cheaper, more affordable variant.
According to a recent report, the new Phaeton could be positioned to compete with the likes of the Chrysler 300 and Ford Taurus SHO, rather than the luxury market like the first-generation Phaeton that failed to find sales success in North America.
The original Phaeton had a short life span in the U.S., lasting just three years from 2003 to 2006 before the German automaker decided to discontinue selling it here. Sales have continued in Europe and while VW hasn’t confirmed that it will resume Phaeton sales here, it’s believed sales will resume later this decade.
SEE ALSO: Volkswagen Phaeton to Return in 2018-2019, No Pickups for US
The new Phaeton is expected to use either a modified Audi A8 or A6 platform and will be the largest sedan Volkswagen has in its lineup. Currently, the largest sedan the German automaker sells is the CC and that has a starting price shy of $35,000.
Both the Chrysler 300C and Ford Taurus SHO have starting prices under $50,000 and the new Phaeton would arguably be better fit for the market place if it was priced competitively to those sedans.
[Source: Edmunds]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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