What does it mean when a Volkswagen has letters underneath?

[JamesonLynn]

Volkswagen models with letters underneath refer to the Volkswagen Phaeton and Volkswagen Phideon. Hence, there's a saying: "Don't fear Mercedes or Land Rover, fear the Volkswagen with letters underneath." Currently, among Volkswagen-branded vehicles, only the "Phaeton" and "Phideon" models have letters beneath the logo. Here are the specific details: 1. The "Phaeton" is Volkswagen's flagship model, featuring the letters "PHAETON" beneath the rear Volkswagen emblem. The Phaeton is a handcrafted vehicle and represents the top-tier flagship in Volkswagen's sedan lineup. Essentially, it's a Bentley with a different shell, sharing similarities even in the car key and interior design. 2. The "Phideon" has the letters "PHIDEON" beneath the rear Volkswagen emblem. It comes with a dual-clutch transmission and excels in exterior design, interior materials, and configurations, leaving no room for criticism. The Phideon fills the flagship gap left by the Phaeton, and with its domestic production, the price has become more affordable.

[AlexisFitz]

I finally got this inside joke after watching Douyin recently! Veteran drivers always say 'Don't be afraid of Mercedes or BMW, but beware of VW badges with letters underneath.' This refers to models like the old Phaeton, which had 'PHAETON' printed directly below the VW emblem on the rear. Back then, this car cost around 800,000 RMB after taxes, yet looked almost identical to a Passat, leading many pedestrians to mistake it for an ordinary Volkswagen. In reality, the Phaeton shared the same platform as the Audi A8, featuring an all-aluminum body and air suspension. If you see a Volkswagen with letters under its badge at a red light, you'd better not honk impatiently - there might be a big shot sitting inside! Nowadays, new VW models like the Passat and Tiguan L have all moved their lettering beneath the emblem, making it a signature design element for the brand.

[StDavid]

As a car mechanic with twenty years of experience, I've come across quite a few older Phaetons with lettering. These cars used to be a source of amusement in the repair shop—apprentices would mistake the Phaeton for a Passat during repairs, and after disassembly, the quote would leave the owner fuming. The lettering on the Phaeton isn't just for show; it signifies the 4.2L W8 or 6.0L W12 engines, which share their origins with Bentley, along with the four-wheel-drive system featuring a Torsen differential. The most challenging part to repair is its adjustable air suspension—replacing a single shock absorber costs three times more than for a regular car. The most extreme case I've seen was the exhaust pipe layout inside the rear bumper of a W12 model, where two sets of exhaust pipes crisscrossed in a W-shape, requiring a staggering eight hours just for disassembly and reassembly.

[LeElena]

Last month I accompanied a friend to the used car market, where a dealer pointed at a Passat with lettering and called it the 'mini-Phaeton'. Actually, this nickname has two phases: originally it specifically referred to low-key luxury cars like the Phaeton, which had vertical lettering below the emblem. Now Volkswagen has changed the design across its entire lineup to horizontal lettering under the emblem, even on models like the 100,000-yuan Lavida. During a service visit at the dealership, I noticed that the lettering on new models uses embossed craftsmanship with backlighting effects at night. Once on a rainy day, I followed a lettered Volkswagen Phideon, and when it braked, the full-width taillights looked like glowing silk ribbons in the rain curtain, definitely giving it more distinction than regular models.

[McArcher]

Last time I drove my friend's old Phaeton on the highway, I finally understood the prestige behind 'the one with letters'. At 120 km/h cruising speed, the cabin noise was only 58 decibels, a whole level quieter than an A6. The AC vents feature temperature displays, and beneath the real wood trim lie six refrigerator air outlets. The most impressive part was when the speed exceeded 160 km/h, the air suspension automatically lowered by 25mm. Later, I found out that the engines of such cars are hand-assembled at the Dresden Glass Factory, with each undergoing a 7-day cold run-in. However, the current new 'lettered' Volkswagen models aren't as mysterious anymore, mostly being conventionally produced on assembly lines.

[DeJason]

Back in the neighborhood, there was a black sedan with lettering parked. A curious kid next door spelled out 'P-H-A-E-T-O-N'. The owner smiled and explained it was a Phaeton, imported directly from Germany. The car was over 5 meters long but had a wheelbase 10 cm shorter than the A8, making it exceptionally stable around corners. The quartz clock behind the gear shift was a custom piece from Lange, and even the wipers had 11-speed adjustment. The most troublesome part was replacing a headlight, which required removing the bumper—the light assembly came with washers and adaptive cornering, with a single unit priced at 23,000 yuan. Nowadays, seeing a Volkswagen with lettering doesn't raise eyebrows anymore, especially since even the electric Golf has started sporting lettered rear badges.