GENEVA: Volkswagen has taken the unusual step of launching a new flagship model at this year's Geneva Motor Show that will only be sold in China.
The Phideon, as it will be known when it goes on sale towards the end of 2016, is the most technologically advanced car ever to carry a VW emblem and offers an interesting mix of sporting dynamics and luxury.
For instance, it's over five meters long to ensure plenty of room for back seat passengers and uses the same air suspension set-up found in Bentleys. But it has a wheel at each corner to ensure better handling and performance.
Volkswagen hasn't provided any figures, but the car on display in Geneva, the range-topping 3.0TSI, boasts a 300PS turbo-charged V6 engine and permanent all-wheel drive. Milder, two-wheel drive gas-powered models plus a plug-hybrid version are also planned.
And while this range and their mix of attributes have been blended for aspirational Chinese customers -- the Phideon is a joint venture between VW's German and Chinese design teams -- the car also offers a very clear idea of what VW's next global flagship model, the second-generation Phaeton, will look like when it launches before the end of the decade.
For instance, the car's front grille is a new design and one that will be used to distinguish all future flagship VW sedans.
While in terms of innovations, it is the first VW to use a night-vision camera and to get a head-up display as standard.
It also offers the driver a 360-degree view of his or her surroundings for maneuvering in the most crowded of megacities and this is on top of active driver safety systems including lane departure warning and infotainment features such as support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design Volkswagen Brand, confirmed that the new car will offer a number of design cues for future up-market models and said of the new car's development that it was "designed in Europe for our style-conscious Chinese customers."
