The interior of the highly safe Phaeton is considered one of the most elegant, high quality and comfortable of the entire luxury class. Unmatched in quality are the absolutely draft-free 4-zone climate control system and the 18-way seats that have won awards for their ergonomics. In addition, all control functions of the Phaeton's interior are intuitive. As an alternative to the version with three rear seat positions (5-seater), the saloon may be ordered with two electrically adjustable individual seats as an option (4-seater). The Phaeton is also available in an extended version that is twelve centimetres longer. The possibilities for individualising the saloon are practically limitless with the multitude of options ranging from a wide variety of leather, Alcantara trim, wood accents to such features as a refrigerator or multimedia systems as well as the one-of-a-kind customising services of Volkswagen R GmbH. This also applies to the new multifunction steering wheel design; it may be ordered in either leather or a wood-leather combination that is coordinated with the interior accents.
Yet, the Phaeton is not only comfortable; it is also extremely safe. Complementing such safety features as all-wheel drive and ESP and the car's high-strength body (37,000 Nm/Grad of static torsional rigidity) are the restraint systems installed as standard equipment in the interior, which provide effective all-round protection. Components of this safety network include active head restraints (front), front and side airbags (front) as well as head airbags for the front and rear passengers (outer seats). Additional standard features are the ISOFIX mounting points (outer seating positions in rear) for safe mounting of suitable child seats; these mounts are now supplemented by a what is known as a Top Tether (additional support of the child seats in the area behind the head restraints).
One of the best interiors in the world
The materials used, the technical solutions, elegant styling and ample interior space all generate an ambiance that is as progressive as it is exclusive, and which makes the Phaeton unmistakable and pleasantly independent. The styling is dominated by clear straight lines, timeless and yet contemporary design elements, logical intuitive controls and a good clear layout. At night, the cockpit is immersed in a subdued, warm light with column lighting. Also illuminated are the interior door handles. The centrepiece of the geometrically structured cockpit is the centre console with an integrated infotainment centre and gearshift console just beneath it. Forming a contrast to these high-tech elements, in the middle of the horizontal line of fine wood trim on the dashboard – is the Phaeton's analogue clock with chrome bezel. The instruments of the instrument cluster, encased behind anti-reflective glass, are ideally visible to the driver.
The upper dashboard has an elegant texture; upon request, a leather version of the instruments may be ordered. The lower section of the cockpit and the doors consist of a material that contrasts in colour from the upper section and is generally lighter.
The Phaeton offers an excellent amount of interior space. Just how optimally Volkswagen exploits the space of the car body is demonstrated by an interior length of 1,875 millimetres. In the chauffeur version with an extended wheelbase that is 120 millimetres longer, the interior length is 1,995 millimetres; these values guarantee exceptionally relaxed conditions at all four or five seating locations.
The effective head room is 974 millimetres in front and 970 millimetres in the rear. Also spacious: The dimensions for the front and rear elbow width – a reliable indicator of the feeling of ample space – are 1,562 millimetres (in front) and 1,528 millimetres (in rear). The same applies to the shoulder room dimensions. The saloon's luggage compartment can handle a superior 500 litres of volume. A fine high-tech side detail: The rear bonnet of the Phaeton W12 (and otherwise optional) opens and closes automatically with a servo mechanism. In this case, the rear bonnet hinge is made of aluminium; It is worth opening if only to enjoy its aesthetic appearance.
Infotainment systems
The intuitive operation of the Phaeton was transferred unequivocally to the current generation of radio/navigation systems (RCD 810 and RNS 810). The systems, equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen – form a functional unit with controls of the climate control and multimedia systems. The RCD 810 is offered as standard equipment; the RNS 810 navigation system can be added as an option. Either system may be combined with the 1,000 Watt, 12-channel, high-end "Dynaudio Temptation" sound system.
Use of online services: In the new Phaeton, Volkswagen is offering - for the first time - an Internet-based Google function as a supplement to the map display of the RNS 810 radio-navigation system with 30 Gigabyte hard drive. The relevant data are loaded into the system via mobile telephone using a specially set up Proxy Server. Visualisation on the touchscreen display is the same as the Google maps "Satellite" view or the Google "Hybrid" map on the iPhone, which are familiar from the conventional Internet. In the Phaeton, the satellite images are of course specified by the selected route recommendation of the navigation system.
Especially interesting are POIs – Points of Interest – which can be called up. Integrated in Google are addresses, attractions, businesses, sporting venues, physicians and restaurants that can be selected and directly transferred to the navigation screen in just seconds. Ideally, the system loads the data over a UMTS connection. The telephone itself is fully integrated in the system via remote SIM-Access-Profile (rSAP). If a user wants to use a mobile phone with Hands-Free Profile (HFP) as an alternative, this is also possible in the new Phaeton (in this case, Google is not activated). In HFP mode, products such as the iPhone from Apple are also "Phaeton-compatible".
Traffic sign detection: Yet, the infotainment system in the current generation Phaeton can do even more. Now, thanks to an optional camera located near the rearview mirror, the Phaeton can recognise traffic signs and show the relevant information on the touchscreen and/or the screen of the multifunction display (between the speedometer and tachometer). Not only does it show the legal maximum speed; it also shows important supplemental information (such as "10 pm – 6 am" or "When wet"). By the way, this is the first vehicle in the world to indicate no-passing zones to the driver.
Best climate control system in the world
The 4-zone Climatronic of the Phaeton assumes a special place in the comfort area. This unique system offers three key advantages. First: In the Volkswagen flagship, passengers sitting on the left and right in the rear can also set their target temperatures individually. The four controllable zones give the system its name: 4-zone Climatronic. Second: The cooling or heating air is routed to the defined zones indirectly via automatically opening and closing air ducts that are essentially draft-free. Third: Humidity control is integrated; this function automatically detects condensation on the windows and preventatively counteracts it.
The Climatronic, equipped with an automatic recirculation function, operates as follows: Outside air that is drawn in through the two large particulate filters with activated charcoal housed in the front bonnet clean the air of contaminants. A dual-duct blower distributes the primary air stream. Then 25 electric adjustment motors in the climate control system help to achieve ideal control of air distribution. The large surface areas of the air outlets mean that the conditioned air is discharged at low speed into the car's interior; essentially this method avoids perceptible drafts. Indirect ventilation plays a crucial role here, which ensures a constant interior temperature either in concert with the conventional air nozzles on the instrument panel or by itself – depending on external conditions. In the latter case, the conventional visible air discharge nozzles are covered by fine wood covers.
Direct air discharge is only used as long as absolutely necessary; once a certain temperature level has been reached, and outdoor conditions allow it, it is important to distribute the air indirectly – that is, not blowing it onto the driver or passenger. The Climatronic then switches over to indirect mode, and the direct air nozzles are automatically closed and hidden by fine wood covers. Now a ventilation strip just inside the front windscreen and extending across the entire width of the interior, provides for air circulation that is hardly noticeable. Climate control specialists focused special attention on the rear seating area, offering individual temperature controls for the two outer seating positions. Temperatures of the individual air temperature zones are regulated via four temperature sensors in the air discharge system in the rear seating area.
Award-winning seat system
Driver and front passenger seats: Volkswagen offers the Phaeton in a basic 5-seat layout and an optional 4-seat version with two individual seats in the rear. In the 5-seat version, the front seats are electrically adjustable in a 12-way system. The twelve ways: front/back functions for longitudinal (2), height (2) and seat angle (2) adjustments, backrest angle (2) and height and depth adjustments for the lumbar support (4). Electrical adjustment controls are located low on the outer side of the seat pedestal; a switch in the shape of a seat and backrest that is perceptible to the touch makes adjustments intuitive. The front seats also have standard active head restraints. In a rear crash, the reversible system is triggered by the momentum of the driver or front passenger. Specifically, a hinge mechanism in the backrest moves the head restraints forward and upward; this reduces the distance to the head and thereby the risk of the commonly known whiplash trauma.
On the Phaeton W12, an 18-way seat adjustment system is provided as a standard feature on the 4-seat version, and otherwise as an option. These seats were the first in the world to be awarded the German "AGR quality seal" (best back support) as well as the highly esteemed "Professor Ferdinand Porsche Prize".
In addition to the functions offered on the 12-way seats, electrical adjustments were added for the top of the backrest, the head restraints and seat length (the front thigh support). In this case, the steering wheel also retracts to a neutral position during entry and exit as part of the Easy-Entry function. Also integrated: a memory function to store individual settings for three drivers (controls the seat, seatbelt height, rearview and outside mirrors as well as the steering wheel), seat air conditioning by fans and a back massage function of the lumbar support.
Rear seats: Two alternative rear seat configurations are offered. The standard configuration for the saloon is a 3-person bench seat. The first upgrade that can be ordered as a special option are rear seats with 6-way adjustment, air conditioning and massage function. In the most exclusive version, Volkswagen offers the Phaeton with two individual seats in the rear with 10-way adjustment systems (including memory logic). In this version, an Easy-Entry system was also integrated in the rear: When the doors are opened, the individual seats slide backwards up to ten centimetres, depending on their initial positions, making entry and exit easier. In addition, with the 10-way system it is possible to adjust the front passenger seat from the rear.
Notes:
All features, data and prices contained in this press packet apply to models offered in Germany. They may differ in other countries. All information is subject to change and correction.
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