VW is still very light on details about its future flagship, and Tesla shouldn’t be shaking in its boots yet. The automaker simply promises “a pure electric drive with long-distance capability, connectivity and next-generation assistance systems as well as an emotional design.” According to insiders speaking to Autocar, the Phaeton potentially launches in 2020, and it might share a platform and powertrain with the production version of the Audi E-Tron Quattro concept.
A new Phaeton was rumored to be nearly ready earlier this year, but the project was reportedly scrapped to cut costs. VW loses money making the current one, and sedan competes against other products, like the Audi A8. Perhaps the company sees this scandal as a perfect opportunity to revaluate the point of the vehicle.
While the Phaeton EV will represent the top of VW’s future lineup, electrification will appear further down the line, as well. The automaker will create a new platform called the MEB specifically for compact EVs. Promising ranges between 155 and 311 miles, the architecture will be offered across the VW Group brands and on “both passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.”
This electrification push will likely affect current models, too, thanks to further engineering of the MQB platform. VW wants the vehicles to support longer-range plug-in hybrids, mild hybrids, and EVs with 186 miles of distance. Since the architecture is already on sale, presumably these are the first vehicles to benefit from the new strategy.
Accelerated implementation of the efficiency program creates room for reorientation
Streamlined processes leverage further cost-saving potential, including cuts in fixed costs
Investments to be reduced by 1 billion euros per year compared with planning – combined with prioritization of projects for the future
Product decisions formulated
New Phaeton will be electric
New Modular Electric Toolkit planned
Wolfsburg,October 13, 2015 – The newly-formed Volkswagen Brand Board of Management took further strategic decisions at a special meeting. CEO Dr. Herbert Diess announced major product decisions: a reorientation of the diesel strategy with the most advanced technologies, the development of a standardized electric architecture for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, and a new approach for the next generation of the Phaeton. Investments are to be reduced by some one billion euros per year; the efficiency program is to be accelerated.
Dr. Herbert Diess underscored: “The Volkswagen brand is repositioning itself for the future. We are becoming more efficient, we are giving our product range and our core technologies a new focus, and we are creating room for forward-looking technologies by speeding up the efficiency program.”
Reorientation of the diesel strategy
It was decided to switch over to installing only diesel drives with SCR and AdBlue technology in Europe and North America as soon as possible.
Diesel vehicles will only be equipped with exhaust emissions systems that use the best environmental technology.
Systematic further development of the Modular Transverse Toolkit (MQB)
There will be a major development thrust for the proven MQB standardized technical toolkit, where Volkswagen Passenger Cars holds responsibility for development within the Group network. The focus is on plug-in hybrids with an even greater range, high-volume electric vehicles with a radius of up to 300 kilometers, a 48-volt power supply system (mild hybrid) as well as ever more efficient diesel, petrol and CNG concepts. A new standard with regard to connectivity and driver assistance systems is to be defined.
MEB electric toolkit
An MEB electric toolkit for future use in compact segment vehicles is to be developed based on the experience gained with existing vehicle architectures. This will be a multi-brand toolkit suitable for both passenger cars and light commercial vehicles and will thus leverage synergies from other electric vehicle projects in the Group. The standardized system will be designed for all body structures and vehicle types, thus allowing particularly emotional vehicle concepts,and will enable an all-electric range of 250 to 500 kilometers.
Phaeton redefined – the future is electric
The Volkswagen Phaeton has embodied the brand’s technological competence and brand ambition from the first generation onward. The future generation of the Phaeton will once again be the flagship for the brand’s profile over the next decade. In light of this, the Board of Management redefined the current project. The specification features a pure electric drive with long-distance capability, connectivity and next- generation assistance systems as well as an emotional design.
Accelerated efficiency program
Dr.Herbert Diess said: “We are very aware that we can only implement these innovations for the future of the Volkswagen brand effectively if we succeed with our efficiency program and in giving our product range a new focus.”
Diess continued: “Together with my Board of Management colleagues and the entire team we are working at top speed on these issues. Time and again, the Volkswagen team has proved it stands united and is fully focused on shaping the future, particularly when times are tough. We have now laid the further foundations for that.”
