It’s safe to say that the original Volkswagen Phaeton was not a success in the United States. Consumers never warmed up to the notion of a pricey full-size luxury sedan from the “People’s Car” brand, and just 3,354 examples found homes during the three years before U.S. sales came to an end.
However, Volkswagen America CEO Michael Horn has confirmed in an interview with Bloomberg that the company will give the Phaeton experiment another shot, with the next-generation model slated to arrive in the states sometime in 2018 or 2019.
Few official details about the new Phaeton are available, but the flagship sedan is expected to utilize the same MLB platform as the Audi A8 and make extensive use of aluminum in order to reduce excess mass. Both six- and eight-cylinder engines have been rumored, and a plug-in hybrid powertrain could also be offered.
It’s unclear what measures Volkswagen will employ to better endear the model to image-conscious luxury buyers. In any event, it will likely be positioned as a low-volume halo vehicle and a showcase for Volkswagen’s technological prowess.
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