Volkswagen Phideon
The production version of
the of Volkswagen Phideon has
been unveiled on the Beijing Auto Show,
looking distinctive and stylish in light brown. The Phideon is a China-only
full-size sedan, It will be positioned between the Volkswagen Passat/Megotan
and the Volkswagen Phaeton.
The Phideon is manufactured
in China by the Shanghai-Volkswagen joint
venture. It stands on the same stretched version of the MLB 2 platform as the
China-made Audi A6L.
The Phideon will be
available with two engines: a 3.0 TSI V6 petrol with
an output of 300 hp and 480 nm, mated to an eight-speed DCT, sending power to all
four wheels. This version will be called ‘480V6’. And a 2.0 TSI petrol with an
output of 250 hp and 350 nm, eight speed DCT, and front wheel drive. This version
will be called ‘350T’. A hybrid will join the
line-up later.
The Phideon will hit the
Chinese car market in September. Price for the 2.0 will start around 320.000
yuan, and price for the V6 around 360.000 yuan.
The Phideon name comes from
the Roman goddess Fides, and symbolizes (according to Volkswagen
marketing-speak) ‘perfection, elegance, and and trustworthiness’. The Chinese
name is Hui Ang (辉昂),
best translated as ‘Noble Brightness’, and has nothing to do with Roman stuff
and such.
The interior just doesn’t look so luxurious, not so modern, and not
at all high tech. The gear lever is a giant in tractor style, whereas most cars
in this class, and many cheaper ones, now go for smaller levers or gear-select
dials. The buttons on each side of said lever look awfully cheap.
