How long has the Phaeton been discontinued?
3 Answers
The Phaeton has been discontinued for about five years. The last model was the 2015 version, which was not produced in domestic factories but sold through imports. The main differences in the Phaeton's appearance are as follows: 1. Length 5179mm, width 1903mm, height 1475mm, wheelbase 3001mm, and curb weight 2260kg. 2. The English name of the Phaeton is spelled as PHAETON, located below the emblem on the trunk lid. 3. Configuration: The vehicle is equipped with a 3.0L naturally aspirated engine, a 3.6L naturally aspirated engine, and a 4.2L naturally aspirated engine.
It's been over 7 years since the Phaeton was discontinued, from 2016 when Volkswagen officially announced the end of production to this year, 2023. I remember it was called a low-key luxury car back then, competing with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but sales never took off, and the costs were too high for Volkswagen to justify. Its all-aluminum chassis and luxurious interior were quite appealing, but unfortunately, the market response was lukewarm. Nowadays, you can still find some Phaetons in the used car market, but parts are hard to come by for repairs, and they're expensive. Volkswagen later shifted to an electrification strategy, introducing the ID series as its new darling. To be honest, the discontinuation of the Phaeton marked the end of an era for traditional luxury cars, and as a car enthusiast, I still feel a bit nostalgic for those times of meticulously crafted designs.
The Phaeton has been discontinued for about 7 or 8 years, with 2016 being its final production year. I used to own a Phaeton—it drove very smoothly, but maintenance was truly troublesome. Volkswagen discontinued it primarily due to low sales leading to huge losses; it couldn't compete with the Audi A8. Looking back now, the Phaeton's design was too classic yet too understated, making the joke about ordinary people mistaking it for a Passat quite real. Used Phaetons aren't expensive, but parts are scarce. I'd suggest those interested consider modern electric models directly. Volkswagen's overall strategy has shifted, turning the Phaeton into history. Time has proven it couldn't survive, which is quite a pity.