2007 Volkswagen Phaeton Facelifted review

Volkswagen Phaeton Facelifted review:

At the Geneva Motor Show Volkswagen is presenting a generation of the Phaeton that is equipped with numerous technical innovations. Modifications and new equipment details will already flow into ongoing production starting at the end of May.

NEW TECHNICAL FEATURES

Front Assist stopping distance reduction, Side Assist lane change assistant, new DVD navigation system, modified infotainment system, new headlamps

Technical changes and new systems implemented for the first time on the Phaeton, besides the V6 TDI, include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) now with a new Follow-to-Stop function, "Front Assist" stopping distance reduction, "Side Assist" lane change assistant and automatic activation of the low-beam lamp during faster Autobahn driving (starting at 140 km/h after ten seconds) and in case of rain. Also new: The navigation system now has DVD support and many new functions, in parallel to navigation a similarly modified infotainment system with haptically and visually optimized control buttons and a new voice-controlled Bluetooth telephone with auxiliary Bluetooth receiver and memory capacity of up to 1,000 telephone book entries (up to four numbers may be saved per entry). A new tire pressure control system also offers an even higher level of safety and operator convenience.

In the exterior area, advanced development of the generation is recognizable by its additional chrome accent strips in the lower area of the front apron and newly designed bi-xenon headlamps. Integrated here are the dynamic and static cornering headlamps as well as newly designed LED daytime running lamps. The LED daytime running lamp – arranged as a narrow, horizontal strip in the lower area of the headlamp housing – is automatically activated with ignition. Another 19-inch alloy wheel type was also newly designed.

FRONT ASSIST AND SIDE ASSIST IN DETAIL/

Front Assist occasionally reduces stopping distance by important meters; Side Assist contributes to preventing side collisions

Front Assist: A technological highlight is the Front Assist stopping distance reduction system. It serves to prevent front end collisions. The system utilizes a radar sensor to monitor the distance to vehicles in traffic in front of the Phaeton. When they approach too closely the driver is informed in two stages. At the same time the vehicle is prepared for possible hard braking by the driver. In certain situations the system preventatively puts the brakes in a preconditioned status ahead of time; otherwise they would only become active when the driver actuates the brakes. This is how the new system achieves Stopping Distance Reduction (AWV).

Side Assist: Another new assistance system is the Lane Change Assistant (Side Assist). This system monitors the area in back of and next to the Phaeton via radar sensors in the rear bumper (one sensor each for areas to the left and right of the vehicle), and it signals a potential collision risk via an indicator light in the outside mirror housing. The sensor monitoring range is about 50 meters to the rear and 3.60 meters to the sides of the sedan.