2008 Volkswagen Phaeton Improved Safety Car Review and Specs | 2008 Volkswagen Phaeton Improved Safety Car Wallpaper Pictures Pics

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The first models of the further perfected Phaeton are now leaving the Transparent Factory in Dresden. In addition to intentionally reserved visual retouching of the superior-classic body shape, it’s innovative new technologies that more than ever make the Phaeton one of the best touring sedans. Europe’s largest car maker is offering the luxury-class sedan as the first model in the group with a V6 turbodiesel engine that already meets the Euro-5 norm. The other technical innovations of the revamped Phaeton include Front Assist, the stopping distance reduction system integrated in Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), the Side Assist lane changing assistant, a new DVD navigation system and an updated infotainment system.

The new technologies complement the extraordinarily large safety and comfort potential of the Phaeton. The reason for this is that all versions of the sedan come standard equipped with the four-wheel drive + air suspension combination. Four-wheel drive example: The 4MOTION name represents a system that, in addition to excellent driving dynamic qualities and drive comfort, guarantees a high level of active safety even under the most adverse weather conditions. 4-corner air suspension with Continuous Damping Control (CDC) example: It perfects comfort on all streets and enables the body to be lowered at speeds above 140 km/h. This optimizes handling performance and lowers average fuel consumption.

The newest version of the Phaeton with standard equipped with 12-way electrically adjustable front seats (18-way seats depending on version) is commendable as a superior, comfortable and safe glider over great distances and a stress-free zone between appointments on a busy day.

The equipment of the Phaeton can now be systematically further refined by the specialists of Volkswagen Individual. Phaeton individualization offers features such as “Sensitive Classic Style” leather upholstery, specifically developed colors and color combinations, an “Alcantara Package”, a wide range of interior décor, the “High-End Multimedia System” with LCD monitors in the backs of the front headrests, a fridge in the back and numerous alloy wheels such as the new 19-inch “Omanyt” rim.

NEW V6 TDI /
233-hp TDI the first big diesel engine of the group to meet the Euro-5 norm;
the norm coming into effect in 2009 sets a reduction of particle emissions by 80 percent

The new V6 TDI is a technology highlight: As outlined, it fulfils the Euro-5 norm in combination with the new high-end sedan. 80 percent lower soot emissions over the Euro-4 norm are also required and the new Phaeton with its 171 kW / 233 hp common rail direct injection engine meets this requirement.

Compared to the discontinued V6 TDI the new engine achieves an addition eight hp, but with 9.6 liters over 100 kilometers in no way consumes more fuel. The driving performance of the standard-equipped four-wheel drive and now 236 km/h fast Phaeton V6 TDI has also slightly improved. Alternatively to the TDI, there are also three gasoline engines (V6, V8 and W12) with output ranging from 177 kW / 241 hp to 331 kW / 450 hp available for the new version of the Phaeton. In addition, the Phaeton is available in a 4 and 5 seat interior version as well as with an optional extended wheelbase.

NEW TECHNICAL FEATURES/
Front Assist stopping distance reduction, Side Assist lane changing assistant, new DVD navigation system, revamped info and entertainment system, new headlights

Besides the V6 TDI, the technical modifications and the systems used in the Phaeton for the first time include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with new follow-to-stop features, “”Front Assist” stopping distance reduction, “Side Assist” lane changing assistant and automatic activation of low beams when driving fast on the motorway (starting 10 seconds after reaching 140 km/h) or when raining. Also new: a DVD-based navigation system with numerous new features, an info and entertainment system also revamped along with the navigation system with haptically and visually optimized operating buttons and a new voice-controlled Bluetooth telephone with extra Bluetooth earphone and storage capacity of up to 1,000 telephone book entries (up to four numbers can be saved per entry). A new tire pressure monitoring system also provides an even greater level of safety and operating comfort.

On the exterior the further developed generation of extra chrome trim can be seen in the lower part of the front spoiler and the newly designed bi-xenon headlights. Integrated here: the dynamic cornering and static turning light as well as a newly styled LED daytime running light. The LED daytime running light – arranged as a narrow, horizontal bar at the bottom of the headlight casing – turns on automatically during ignition.

FRONT ASSIST AND SIDE ASSIST IN DETAIL/
Front Assist reduces the stopping distance, sometimes by a few significant meters;
Side Assist contributes towards preventing side collisions

Front Assist: The new Front Assist stopping distance reduction system is a technological highlight. This system is a component part of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). ACC relieves strain on the driver by active braking and acceleration. And this increases driving comfort, particularly on longer motorway trips. At the same time it helps the vehicle to maintain the legal minimum distance.

Front Assist now goes a step further: The ACC extension should help to prevent rear-end collisions. The system uses a radar sensor to monitor the distance to vehicles in front of the Phaeton. When approaching too fast it warns the driver in two stages: At the same time the vehicle is prepared for the possibility that the driver will need to slam on the brakes. Prior to certain situations Front Assist preventatively puts the brakes into a preconditioned status that is otherwise only active when applying on the brakes; the new system thus works as a stopping distance reduction system (AWV).

As a component part of Adaptive Cruise Control the system is operated via corresponding buttons on the multifunctional steering wheel. In many ways operation is the same as for adjusting the cruise control system (GRA). When ACC is activated the sedan automatically brakes, up to a complete stop if necessary, and accelerates within a range of speed previously set by the driver.

The system can be switched on at speeds ranging from 30 to 200 km/h. The system uses radar to measure traffic traveling up to 200 meters in front of the Phaeton at an angle of 12 degrees. ACC is activated or deactivated via an ON/OFF button on the left side of the multifunctional steering wheel. In addition, all driver assist systems, including ACC, can be turned on or off at the same time by pressing a central button in the blinker lever for longer than a second. ACC is also temporarily deactivated when the driver applies the brakes.

Essential information for automatic distance control can be quickly and easily seen in the form of data and pictograms shown on the multifunctional display. In addition to the activation state, this includes the target speed set, target and actual distance (adjustable in 5 levels) or an “object detected” by radar in front of the Volkswagen.

In some driving situations it is necessary for the Phaeton to also be braked manually to maintain a comfortable safety distance to the vehicle in front or to avoid a rear-end collision in extreme cases. If ACC detects that the safety distance cannot be maintained, because the delay built up by the system that is legally limited to 0.4g is not enough, the driver is alerted to take over. This is done via a visual and audible alarm.

Side Assist: Another new assistance system in the Phaeton is the lane-changing assistant, Side Assist. At 60 km/h and above this system uses radar sensors in the rear bumpers to monitor the area to the back and side of the Phaeton (one sensor for each area to the right and left of the vehicle) and signals a potential risk of collision via a warning light in the wing mirror casing. The sensor monitoring area covers a distance of about 50 meters behind and 3.60 meters to the side of the sedan.

If Side Assist detects a critical situation to the left or right of the Phaeton without the driver having indicated a lane change by putting on the blinkers, the warning LEDs in the wing mirror casing alert the driver of the special situation on the road. However, if the driver puts on the blinker when the adjacent lane is occupied the warning lights indicate potential danger by flashing four times. The brightness of the warning light can be set to five levels via the multifunctional display. Interesting system integration: The ambient brightness currently registered by the rain and light detection sensor is automatically used to set the brightness of the light.

Two control units are responsible for how Side Assist works. One of them (master) sets the tone. The master unit forms a unit with the right radar sensor, the second control unit (slave) currently corresponds to left sensor. The design of master and slave is identical. The basis is formed by an electronic circuit board with a digital signal processor as the central processing unit. Among other tasks, it is also used to register and track the objects detected by sensor. The control unit themselves are located on the left and right of the rear bumper, in direct proximity to the radar sensors. Radar, by the way, stands for “Radio Detection And Ranging” – target detection or target positioning via electromagnetic waves.

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2008 Volkswagen Phaeton Improved Safety Review

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