This is the Volkswagen Phaeton that never was

The design, which per the original is a deftly oxymoronic combination of understated and premium, was picked from four original proposals. Our two cents? VW’s later design language doesn’t quite suit the very specific look that we think the original Phaeton perfected on the outside. On the inside? Absolutely fab and a crying shame it never happened. Our only consolation is that the enormous and crystal-clear dash and infotainment architecture lives on in the current Touareg, which launched in 2018.

The D2 reached the stage of ‘near-series prototype’ which as above means that, short of last-minute refinements, it was ready to go. Based on the MLB architecture, the second Phaeton would have shared underpinnings with the current Audi A8 and Porsche Macan. The Bentley Continental meanwhile, with which the original shared a platform, moved on to its own platform shared with Porsche’s second-generation Panamera. This prototype featured an alloy boot lid, doors and bonnet and was around 120mm longer than its predecessor. Engine-wise, not a lot is known. It’s expected the range would have reflected that of the 2017 A8, which is to say, it would have flagrantly violated the legacy of the old Phaeton by not offering a W12 or a diesel V10.

Truth be told, no one expected a second-generation Phaeton, because no one expected the first. Underneath that large and proud badge denoting a ‘People’s car’, was a luxury limousine infused with budget-unfriendly engineering fetishism forced through by the late great Ferdinand Piëch, whose disdain for anything less than perfection is the stuff of legend. His remit for the W12 Phaeton was that it should be able to maintain a consistent speed of 186mph in 50-degree heat for a whole day while maintaining a 22-degree interior temperature. What exactly made sense about that? What exactly made sense at all about a VW limo with Bentley underpinnings, available with a W12 engine or, if you’re feeling efficient, a twin-turbo V10 diesel? Precisely nothing, for which the original Phaeton will always have our adoration.

The concept of the Phaeton lived on in the Chinese-only Phideon, an even more understated full-sized saloon. There is a market that fully appreciates a reserved exterior in combination with a bit of luxury. But we’re still sad the proper Phaeton died. Would the D2 have been a worthy successor? Let us know your thoughts.