Volkswagen UK : Phaeton News Feed

Volkswagen named top manufacturer

2011-06-30T23:00:00Z

Volkswagen has come out on top in the annual What Car? Security Test, which is run in conjunction with Thatcham Vehicle Security.

In the overall manufacturer ranking, Audi came in second place and Volvo was third.

The VW Sharan was top large MPV, while the Tiguan was the best crossover and the Phaeton the most secure luxury car.

The Manufacturer’s award is dictated by how many qualifying cars each manufacturer has in the security league. With the Caddy Maxi, Caravelle, Eos, Jetta, Passat, Passat CC, Phaeton, Sharan, Tiguan, Touareg and Touran, Volkswagen tops the list with 11 models.

Audis topped the supermini, compact executive, performance car and compact 4x4 categories.

What Car? editor John McIlroy said: “It makes sense for buyers to consider security when buying their next new car. If a thief has the choice of a car that they know is easy to break into or a top-rated Volkswagen product, their choice is going to be easy.

“Our tests have also shown that as manufacturers constantly improve the security of their cars, the motorist has become the weak link. Owners need to keep their car keys out of sight of would-be car thieves at all times. It’s only common sense.”

Volkswagen retains top accolade in BIVSA security awards

2011-06-16T23:00:00Z

Volkswagen has once again claimed a number of category titles as well as the overall top accolade for the second consecutive year for the best car manufacturer at the British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards (BIVSA), presented today by Thatcham, the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, in Berkshire.

The new Sharan, which went on sale at the end of last year, was the winner of the Large MPV class; the Tiguan once again triumphed in the Crossover class; and the Phaeton took the title of best Luxury Car for the fourth time since the awards were introduced eight years ago. Volkswagen’s Commercial Vehicles also fared well, with the Caddy winning the Light Van category and the recently-launched Amarok being named the most secure Pick Up LCV.

Volkswagen UK was also crowned overall Manufacturer of the Year in the car section for the second year running.

Commenting on the awards, Mike Briggs, Vehicle Security Manager at Thatcham, said: ‘Volkswagen UK continues to push for supremacy within the British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards and should be commended for its tenacity in devising security solutions to design out crime and make its vehicles more secure. It’s a tremendous achievement to win the overall car manufacturer award for two years running and Volkswagen UK should be justifiably proud of its achievements.’

The British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards are hosted by Thatcham and supported by the Home Office, the DfT, What Car? and the AA. This is the eighth time the BIVSA awards have been held, and since their launch in 2004 they have recognised all that’s best in vehicle security, on the newest cars and vans on the market, applauding the work of vehicle manufacturers and raising consumer awareness.

Vehicles were judged on a number of criteria identified by the creators of the New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) scheme. Those that had a maximum five stars for ‘theft from’, had double locking, and an ‘E’ insurance suffix (indicating they had a feature that exceeds the required standard) were shortlisted for final evaluation and ranking.

Franco Iannotta, Insurance Ratings and Vehicle Security Manager for the Volkswagen Group UK said: ‘The Volkswagen Group is delighted to have had another successful year at the BIVSA awards. We strive constantly to enhance our products and ensure they provide the level of safety and security that our customers expect and deserve. These awards prove once again that this work is paying off and we will continue to focus our efforts in this important area in years to come.’

Volkswagen supports Westlife on Gravity Tour

2011-03-08T00:00:00Z

Irish supergroup Westlife are back on the road again, kicking off their Gravity Tour of the UK last night at the Cardiff International Arena, with Volkswagen UK supplying vehicles.

The multi-platinum selling quartet of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan, are embarking on the 20-date tour, visiting some of the UK’s largest arenas. They will use a Phaeton luxury saloon and a versatile and spacious Caravelle to travel to and from each venue where they will be performing a number of their biggest hits as well as songs from their latest album, Gravity.

Westlife’s tour manager, Steve Martin explained: ‘With such a demanding tour schedule for the band over the next few weeks, we really wanted something that offered comfort but that was understated and reliable. The Phaeton and Caravelle blend all of this together to fit the bill perfectly and are the ideal support act for the tour.’

The recently-revised Phaeton is one of the most advanced and thoroughly engineered cars on the road. Launched late last year, the large executive saloon offers understated luxury from £42,175* and is available with the efficient and refined 3.0-litre V6 TDI 240 PS diesel or 6.0-litre W12 450 PS petrol engines.

The Caravelle has long been a popular choice with those in the music industry, thanks to its space, versatility and understated appearance. However, it is equally at home as a family vehicle, luxury limousine or the ultimate MPV with space for seven people and their luggage. A choice of powerful yet frugal TDI engines means impressive performance and economy.

For more information on the Volkswagen range, please visit www.volkswagen.co.uk or call 0800 333666.

For information on Westlife’s Gravity Tour 2011, go to www.westlife.com

* from participating Volkswagen Retailers

Prices announced for the new Phaeton

2010-10-03T23:00:00Z

Following its debut at the Beijing Motor Show earlier this year, Volkswagen has announced pricing and specification for the new Phaeton luxury saloon as it is available to order from Retailers from today.

Prices for the revised model start at £46,195 for the 3.0-litre V6 TDI 240 PS engine, while the 6.0-litre W12 450 PS model costs £78,685 RRP on the road. The 3.0-litre V6 TDI is offered with a standard wheelbase and both models are available with a long wheelbase, giving an additional 120 mm of legroom to rear passengers.

The new Phaeton features a reprofiled front end which mirrors the design of the new Passat unveiled this week in Paris. The new face comprises bi-xenon headlight units with LED running lights which frame a more imposing front grille above a redesigned front bumper with integrated LED fog lights. Newly designed rear light units sit above a revised bumper, while new alloy wheel designs complete the exterior changes.

Inside the cabin, new trim finishes are complemented by a new multifunction steering wheel design and full colour display within the instrument cluster. The RNS 810 satellite navigation system is fitted as standard which, for the first in a Volkswagen, can be chosen with optional Google Maps. Other entertainment options include the powerful 1,000-watt Dynaudio soundpack, which includes a 12 channel digital amplifier and 12 speakers.

Built in Volkswagen’s transparent factory in Dresden, all new Phaeton models continue to offer comprehensive safety and security equipment as standard with 4MOTION four-wheel drive, eight airbags and laminated glass. Other standard equipment includes Continuous Damping Control (CDC) adjustable air suspension, leather upholstery, 18-way adjustable electric seats and one of the most advanced air conditioning systems in the world.

For more information on the Phaeton call 0800 333666 or visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

New Phaeton unveiled in Beijing

2010-04-21T23:00:00Z

Volkswagen has unveiled the revised Phaeton at the Beijing Motor Show.

Featuring a new look and technologies, the updated Phaeton builds on what is already one of the most advanced and thoroughly engineered cars on the road today.

Built in a state of the art transparent factory in Dresden, the new Phaeton features a new face, comprising a pair of bi-xenon headlight units complete with LED running lights and a new grille featuring two pronounced horizontal bars to lend the car a more imposing stance. Elsewhere, new front wings and a reprofiled bonnet are joined by a revised front bumper, complete with chrome strips and a set of LED foglights.

At the rear, a set of light units fitted with intricate lenses sit above a redesigned bumper. Finally, new alloys wheels complete the changes to the outside of the car.

Inside, a new steering wheel and a colour electronic display ahead of the driver are joined by fresh trim finishes and, for the first time on a Volkswagen, the option of Google Maps on the RNS810 satellite navigation system. Feeding power and information between these and other vehicle systems are over 2,000 separate cables measuring 3.2 km connecting to 60 control units.

The air conditioning system on the Phaeton remains one of the most advanced in the world. As well as featuring a humidity monitoring function to avoid the vehicle misting up in all conditions, the Phaeton W12’s 4Zone climate control system is designed to be capable of maintaining a steady interior temperature of 22 degrees Celsius while the vehicle is at a constant speed of 186 mph in an ambient temperature of 50 degrees.

While this situation is unlikely to be encountered by the majority of motorists, the climate control systems, aerodynamics, brakes, suspension, steering system and even wipers have been designed to cope with speeds far exceeding the norm of 0-155 mph.

The new Phaeton retains a very high level of standard equipment including 4MOTION all-wheel drive, Continuous Damping Control (CDC) adjustable air suspension, leather trim, satellite navigation, 18-way adjustable electric seats, a laminated finish to all glass areas and a total of eight airbags.

Two wheelbase options will be offered (120 mm differentiating the two) and a choice of two engines – a 3.0-litre V6 TDI diesel developing 240 PS and a 6.0-litre W12 petrol engine producing 450 PS.

The new Phaeton goes on sale this August with prices and specifications set to be announced nearer this time.

Volkswagen honoured in BusinessCar Techies 2009

2009-08-25T23:00:00Z

Volkswagen’s latest security system has been honoured at this year’s BusinessCar Techies Awards with the advanced electronic Intelligent Key being named Best Security Device.

A new standard feature on all Volkswagen Touareg 4x4 and Phaeton models, the key maintains a record of whether the car has been locked and alarmed. By simply pressing a button on the key and looking at the red light indicator, an owner can check, even when they are not with the car, the ‘locked’ status of their vehicle. It can also provide vital evidence to insurers and fleet managers as they can confirm by interrogating the car key’s data chip whether the vehicle was secured before any theft or break-ins occurred.

Tristan Young, Editor-in-Chief of BusinessCar commented: ‘Unlike almost all of the other categories where we knew who the likely entries would be, the Best Security Device Techie was won by a device BusinessCar has never written about before. The Volkswagen Intelligent Key is simple to use, useful and clever, which is just what the BusinessCar Technies are about.’

In addition, the highly efficient new Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion was highly commended in the Best Green Development (manufacturer) category. On sale next year, it is expected to return 85 mpg and produce just 87 g/km of CO₂, which matches or exceeds the capabilities of hybrid vehicles currently on sale, and yet is conventional to drive and maintain.

On receiving the award, Vincent Kinner, Head of Volkswagen Fleet Services commented: ‘We are extremely proud to receive this Techie award for the Intelligent Key from BusinessCar, particularly as it was voted for solely by the publication’s readership, which is such an influential group within the fleet arena. The commendation for the Polo BlueMotion is also a fantastic result prior to the vehicle’s market entry next year.’

Volkswagen Phaeton ranked most secure luxury car

2009-06-17T23:00:00Z

For the second year in a row the Volkswagen Phaeton has won the Luxury Car category at the British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards (BIVSA), presented today by Thatcham, the Motor Industry Repair Research Centre, in Berkshire.

The Phaeton was found to be the most secure vehicle in its class, due, in part, to every glass surface, including the sunroof, being laminated. This serves a dual purpose – it not only allows the Phaeton to be incredibly secure but also extremely quiet when on the move. In addition, every Phaeton is fitted as standard with an alarm with interior protection; inclination sensors to prevent the vehicle from being towed away; an electronic immobiliser; deadlocks; and anti-theft wheel bolts.

Vehicles were judged on a number of criteria identified by the creators of the New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) scheme. Those that had a maximum five stars for ‘theft from’, had double locking, and an ‘E’ insurance suffix (indicating they had a feature that exceeds the required standard) were shortlisted for final evaluation and ranking.

The Volkswagen Group also won the Innovation Award for its advanced new electronic key. A new standard feature on all Volkswagen Touareg 4x4 and Phaeton models, the key maintains a record of whether the car has been locked and alarmed. By simply pressing a button on the key and looking at the red light indicator, an owner can check, even when they are not with the car, the ‘locked’ status of their vehicle.

Not only does this give peace of mind to owners, allowing them to avoid the classic ‘did I lock the car or didn’t I?’ scenario; it can also provide vital evidence to insurers as they can confirm by interrogating the car key’s data chip whether the vehicle was secured before any theft or break-ins occurred.

The Volkswagen Tiguan was highly commended in the awards while the Volkswagen brand retained second spot in the overall rankings of vehicle manufacturers.

Franco Iannotta, Insurance Ratings and Vehicle Security Manager for the Volkswagen Group commented: ‘In a fiercely competitive market it’s a testament to the Phaeton’s inherent strength and depth of engineering that it should retain the luxury category award. Furthermore, for the Volkswagen range to secure such a high ranking in the overall standings is a tremendous achievement and one we’re very proud of.’

Even more sophistication with revised Volkswagen Phaeton

2008-11-03T00:00:00Z

Following its debut at the Paris Motor Show, Volkswagen has announced a number of revisions to the Phaeton luxury saloon with new features being added to the model range. Prices for the revised model, fitted with a 3.0-litre V6 TDI 240 PS engine, start at £44,235 RRP on the road.

Inside, new touchscreen satellite navigation and climate control systems feature as standard as part of a redesigned centre console, alongside a refreshed instrument cluster and multifunction display.

Side Scan blind-spot monitor is now available as an option on the Phaeton for the first time, building on the already extensive list of safety equipment fitted to the vehicle. This technology, currently available on the Touareg, monitors the area next to the vehicle and acts as a lane changing aid with an audible alert and a small warning lamp in the wing mirrors to warn of the danger of collision.

Other options new to the Phaeton are a rear-view camera and the powerful 1,000-watt Dynaudio soundpack, which includes a 12-channel digital amplifier and 12 speakers.

Subtle design tweaks have also been made to the exterior, including a revised front grille featuring a three-dimensional Volkswagen roundel. A range of new metallic paint finishes and three new alloy wheels, in 17-, 18- and 19-inch designs, have also been added.

The Phaeton is available with a 3.0-litre V6 TDI 240 PS with DPF (diesel particulate filter) or 6.0-litre W12 450 PS petrol engine. All models have standard 4MOTION four-wheel drive and are available with a long wheelbase, giving 12 cm additional rear legroom. The 3.0-litre V6 TDI is now offered with a standard wheelbase.

The revised Phaeton is available to order now, with new cars arriving in the UK in January 2009.

For more information on the Phaeton visit your local Volkswagen Retailer, call 0800 333666 or log on to www.volkswagen.co.uk.

Phaeton model line-up and pricing	CO₂ emissions, g/km	Fuel economy Combined mpg	Price, £ (RRP OTR)
Standard wheelbase
3.0-litre V6 TDI 240 PS DPF 4MOTION	239	31.4	44,235

Long wheelbase
3.0-litre V6 TDI 240 PS DPF 4MOTION	239	31.4	46,610
6.0-litre W12 450 PS 4MOTION	348	19.5	75,395

The 2008 Paris Motor Show

2008-10-02T23:00:00Z

The 2008 Paris Motor Show opens its doors to the public on 4 October at the Porte de Versailles.

The biennial show is one of the biggest in the motoring calendar, with around 360 exhibitors and 90 world premieres expected this year.

For Volkswagen, the most significant debut is the first show appearance for the all-new Mk6 Golf.

The new Golf has already won massive acclaim in the media, where it has impressed with its upmarket feel and confidence-inspiring handling.

Paris also marks the public debut of the new Golf GTI concept. With a 210PS engine and the clever new Adaptive Chassis Control system – as found on the Scirocco – the GTI promises to be a truly exciting drive, and of course it looks the part, too.

The French show also gives you the opportunity to take a closer look at the new BlueMotion Golf concept. Offering a phenomenal 74.3mpg and emitting just 99g/km of CO2, the super-frugal new BlueMotion Golf is sure to be a draw, as is its larger sibling, the Passat BlueMotion 2.

This latest BlueMotion Passat builds on the original BlueMotion concept, using a 2.0-litre TDI common-rail engine producing 110PS, rather than the 105PS 1.9-litre TDI unit found in the current Passat BlueMotion

Along with the new engine, the new Passat BlueMotion 2 uses an automatic Start/Stop system to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in city driving

When the driver puts the car into neutral and takes their foot off the clutch, the Start/Stop system temporarily stops the engine until the clutch is re-engaged, saving fuel and lowering emissions.

Fuel economy –is improved from 55.4 (54.3 for the Estate) to 57.6mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 output from 136 (137 Estate) to 128 g/km (129 Estate).

There's even more frugality on show, too, in the form of the Passat Blue TDI. This exciting new model is the cleanest Passat of all time, emitting just 137g/km of CO2 in saloon form, while managing 54.3mpg.

To achieve this, the Passat Blue TDI uses a new generation of catalytic converter, dubbed SCR, for Selective Catalytic Reduction. A water-based liquid containing urea, known as AdBlue, is added to significantly reduce harmful nitrogen oxide emissions from the exhaust. This allows the Passat Blue TDI to meet forthcoming Euro 6 emissions regulations that come into effect in 2014.

Finally, the revised Phaeton will also be on show in Paris. This is the most technologically advanced car Volkswagen has ever made, and now features a raft of enhancements including a new 3.6-litre V6 engine.

The Paris Motor Show runs until 19 October. For more information, visit www.mondialautomobile.com.

Volkswagen claims top awards at 2008 BICSA Security Awards

2008-06-17T23:00:00Z

Volkswagen’s newly-launched Tiguan compact MPV and Phaeton luxury saloon have scooped top honours at the British Insurance Car Security Awards (BICSA), which are presented today by Thatcham, the Motor Industry Repair Research Centre, in Berkshire.

The Tiguan was declared the outright winner of the Compact 4x4 category, while the Phaeton was awarded first place in the Luxury Car sector. Elsewhere the Touran compact MPV and Eos convertible came second in their respective classes. The Polo, Golf, Passat, Touareg and Golf Plus were also commended in the judging. Overall Volkswagen was placed second in the manufacturer league table, up one place from last year.

Vehicles were judged on a number of criteria identified by the creators of the New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) scheme. Those that had a maximum five stars for ‘theft from’, had double locking and an ‘E’ insurance suffix (indicating they had a feature that exceeds the required standard) were shortlisted for final evaluation and ranking.

Franco Iannotta, Insurance Ratings and Vehicle Security Manager for the Volkswagen Group commented: ‘It’s a great result for Volkswagen that so many of its products have been recognised by Thatcham. We’re particularly proud that the Tiguan has claimed first place in its inaugural awards. It’s proof that our colleagues in the factory and we in the UK are working tirelessly to produce new cars for our customers that are both safe and secure.’