Volkswagen Phaeton gets a minor makeover

Jun 6, 2007, 13:24 GMT

Wolfsburg ­ Volkswagen has upgraded the specification of its flagship luxury saloon, the Phaeton, with a new TDI engine and a range of technical innovations.

The entry-level model now features a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel, one of the few car engines worldwide to fulfil the Euro 5 emission standards due to come into effect from 2009. The criterion calls for an 80 per cent reduction in soot particulates. At 254 g/km the Phaeton diesel's CO2 emissions are also exceptionally low for a luxury car.

Acceleration to 100 km/h (62 miles an hour) is given as 8.4 seconds, with a top speed of 236 km/h. Production began in May and the car is due to go on sale in European showrooms this summer. The diesel version is offered alongside an existing range of petrol engines which comprise a V6, a V8 and the top-of-the-range 6.0-litre, 12-cylinder power plant.

Other new Phaeton features include chrome accent strips in the front apron area, LED daytime running lights and bi-xenon headlights. New-style 19 inch alloy wheels are also fitted and the navigation system is equipped with DVD support.

The car's Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system has been upgraded with a front and back scanning system. It monitors the distance between vehicles in front and behind and warns the driver if needed. It also prepares the car for possible hard or emergency braking.