Volkswagen Reconsidering Scirocco and Phaeton for the U.S. Market

Earlier this month, Volkswagen announced that it’s going to expand its North American SUV lineup in order to catch up to GM and Toyota and triple its U.S. sales by 2018. However, the automaker also wants to boost its image, so it may bring back the Scirocco coupe and Phaeton sedan to the States.

In an interview in Washington, Jonathan Browning, head of Volkswagen’s U.S. operations, told Bloomberg News that the company is exploring the idea of selling the two models in the U.S. “We will reconsider bringing the Phaeton back to the U.S. in the next product cycle,” said Mr. Browning who added that no final decision has been made yet.

Read more »

Read More

Hofele-Design Converts VW Phaeton to Mythos Royal

Some say that the reason why the Volkswagen Phaeton -one of the most underrated vehicles of our time- has by all accounts been a sales flop, is because of its nondescript styling and the non-premium badge. German tuning firm, Hofele-Design, believes it might address both problems with the introduction of the Mythos Royale. At the end of the day of course, it's just another tuning proposal with both cosmetic and performance modifications.

Hofele-Design starts by removing all "VW" and "Phaeton" badges and logos and replacing them with its own sets. Next, the luxury sedan gets a new fascia with a redesigned front bumper and reshaped bonnet that houses a different grille.

At the back, the German firm added a discreet boot lid spoiler and a new apron with integrated trapezoidal tailpipes.

A new two-tone paint job that is said to be sourced / inspired from Maybach and huge 20-inch alloy wheels are part of the treatment as well.

Inside, Hofele-Design has opted for a two-tone colour scheme with Bentley-style diamond-shape stitching for the door panels and seats. The Phaeton's steering wheel has also been covered in leather while there's also new wood trim.

The Mythos Royal is offered with the same engine line-up as the Phaeton, including the 280HP V6, 335HP V8 and 450HP W12 petrols as well as the 240HP V6 TDI turbo diesel.

For those that want more power, Hofele-Design says it can tweak all engine variants. For example, with the firm's power kit, the 3.0-liter V6 TDI delivers an output of 275HP and 560Nm or 413 lb-ft of peak torque.

There's also a suspension module that lowers the sedan's ride height by around 40mm.

Hofele-Design did not release pricing for the Mythos Royale.

Read More