What does it mean when a Volkswagen has letters underneath?
2 Answers
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.
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.
