Lincoln Continental Concept Turned Into 2017 VW Phaeton

Although VW’s C Coupé GTE study unveiled this week at the Shanghai Auto Show is believed to preview the next-generation Phaeton, the fact that it’s a four-door coupe with a low roofline may not be ideal for interior space.

This may or may not be the reason behind Remco Meulendijk’s decision to render the second-generation VW Phaeton based on the Lincoln Continental Concept rather than VW’s study.

The result is a VW Phaeton rendering that looks more conservative than the C Coupé GTE study, sporting a more traditional sedan shape. 

Obviously, it remains just a speculative rendering and it’s the C Coupé GTE concept we have to look at to get an idea of what the next Phaeton will look like.

Renderings courtesy of RM Design

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VW’s C Coupé GTE Could Be Next-Generation of Phaeton

VW has released the first photos and details of the C Coupé GTE, a four-door concept car for the Chinese market which may preview the second-generation Phaeton luxury sedan.

That’s because the study is over five meters (196.8in) in length, the size of current luxury sedans. While the release doesn’t say the C Coupé GTE previews the Phaeton, it describes the study as illustrating “a new design approach for future top saloons at Volkswagen.”

In terms of styling, the C Coupé GTE has an elegant appearance with a long bonnet, low-profile side windows and a horizontal character line. Striking details include the multi-spoke alloy wheels, the grille intertwined with the LED headlights and the big double-exhausts on each side of the rear bumper.

The C Coupé GTE is powered by a plug-in hybrid drive system consisting of a turbocharged four-cylinder TSI petrol engine, an 8-speed automatic gearbox, an electric motor integrated in the gearbox module and a lithium-ion battery integrated at the rear which can be charged while driving or while parked.

The TSI engine 210PS (207hp), while the electric motor has a power output of 91kW (124PS/122hp). The hybrid drive develops a system power of 245PS (242hp) and 500Nm (369lb-ft), allowing the C Coupé GTE to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.6 seconds and to reach a top speed of 232 km/h (144 mph).

The C Coupé GTE has an all-electric driving range of 50 km (31 miles) and can travel on electric power alone at speeds of up to 130 km/h (81 mph). Combined fuel consumption is just 2.3 l/100 km (102.2 mpg US), corresponding to CO2 emissions of just 55 g/km, according to the NEDC standard for plug-in hybrid vehicles. The study has a total driving range of over 800 km (497 miles).

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VW Sport Coupe Concept GTE

The Sport Coupe GTE from VW isn't just another flight of fantasy, but a car believed to preview the firm's next four-door coupe model in the mid-size category.

From the more snazzy styling to the grander exterior dimensions and the advanced tech, it looks like VW wants to push it above the current CC and closer to other premium sports saloons like the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Audi A7 Sportback – albeit not too close in pricing. 

VW itself said that it portrays a styling exercise for a new model to bridge the gap between the Euro Passat and the Phaeton. 

At 4,869mm (191.7 inches) long 1,407mm (55.4 inches) tall and 1,864mm (73.4 inches) wide, the Sport Coupe is longer and wider than the current Passat, while riding on a 50mm longer wheelbase at 2,841 mm (111.9 inches) for improved rear legroom - Note: VW's US press arm mistakenly noted that the wheelbase was 118.9 inches or 3,020mm, something we repeated in our original article on the study.

For power, VW chose a 295hp 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged gasoline engine that operates in combination with two electric motors, one in the gearbox housing and the other at the rear, delivering a system output of 274hp (380PS), good enough for a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 5.0 seconds and a 250km/h (155mph) top speed. 

The GTE can run on battery power for 50km (31 miles) and has an overall range of around 1,000km or about 620 miles, returning a combined efficiency of 2l/100km (117.6 mpg US or 141.2 mpg UK).

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