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Coming Next Issue
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Geneva Auto Show |
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Porsche 911 S |
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Spring Cleaning |
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Hot Lap |
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Volkswagen Phaeton W12:
Cleared For Take Off (continued) |
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The Phaeton features one of the best climate control systems we've ever experienced. Rumour has it that the exclusive draft-free air conditioning system was developed specifically for VW's ex-top dog Piech, as we was prone to catching colds. Up front, motorized wooden shutters automatically raise or lower to expose the climate control vents. Rear seat passengers can program their own ideal temperature and humidity settings by way of a 48-button control unit that resides in the rear center console.
Rear leg room is ample thanks to nearly 55 cubic feet of total rear seat space. That makes for plenty of room to break out the laptop and finish that PowerPoint presentation while storming down the interstate.
Wind and tire noise was virtually non existent, even at speeds approaching triple digits. As speeds increase, the Phaeton automatically lowers itself a full 1.6" for better road holding characteristics. The Phaeton resumes its normal 5-inch ride height at speeds below 62 miles per hour.
Providing the thrust to power the 5400 pound Phaeton W12 to triple digit speeds is a 6.0-liter W12 engine, a $30,000 option to the $65,215 base price. The all aluminum, 48-valve, double overhead cam motor (did you know it holds 12.5 quarts of oil?) delivers 420 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 406 pound-feet of torque at 3,250 rpm. Slap a couple of turbos and a "flying B" badge on the valve covers, and you've got yourself the engine for Bentley's Continental GT super coupe. No wonder it's a $30k option.
The big W12 was able to propel our Phaeton to sixty miles per hour in just over 5.5 seconds, and it flew through the quarter mile in 14.25 seconds at nearly 100 miles per hour. Oh, and did we mention that we accomplished these figures in a drizzly rain storm? Give credit for this surefootedness to VW's awesome 4Motion all-wheel drive system, which is delivered as part of the standard options package for both the W12 and W8 Phaetons. It's both incredibly competent and invisible, and we love it.
A five-speed automatic with Tiptronic manual-shift controls and a sport mode for increased performance handles gear changes with complete accuracy and velvety smoothness. Despite delivering seamless shifts that are nearly undetectable even at full throttle, the transmission never falters or feels "sloppy." Power delivery remains nearly linear once you depress the throttle.
Braking performance is also linear, as the massive 14.1-inch vented front discs and 12.25-inch vented rear discs deliver fade-free stops, time after time. We recorded 70-to-0 distances of a very respectable 171 feet.
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