AutoblogGreen

The problem was never the car or even the price tag. It was and still is the Volkswagen badge, which holds zero snob appeal.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2431338956181775827&q=top+gear+phaeton&total=4&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2

Fiddle with the sheetmetal and the interior a bit, call it the new Audi A10 and it will sell. After all, the Bentley Continental series shares its underpinnings with the Phaeton and is already selling briskly - albeit to nouveau riche soccer players.

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The Audi diesel V8 makes more power/torque than the 2 valve V10tdi. The V10 is effectively dead, the R10 Touareg not withstanding.
http://www.audiworld.com/news/07/q7-42-tdi-road-test/

The V12 tdi is a 60 degree engine, and probably won't fit. If they dry sump it for height, it is still plenty long, where is the steering rack going to go?
If they push the engine height up, just how high would the hood be for pedestrian 'safety'?
Would VW make a car with pure electric steering [not legal], with twin actuators for steering (got to have redundancy, each one can push/pull)

A V6 diesel seems like a good front drive short wheelbase model (with ZF 8 speed automatic). Maybe with the integral hybrid helper motors?
That is not the model to relaunch the Phaeton in the US right now, if gas hits $5 a gallon things will be different.
At the present VW needs to think 'how do we defeat the Hyundai Genesis?' Answer than, then launch the car. And if gas prices go up (and USD $ goes down), Hyundai can keep the same, under $30K pricepoint, by using a stripper 3.3V6 model, well equipped 3.8 V6 for $40K, and a loaded V8 for $50K.

Larger W12 (double the 3.2 or 3.6 VR6?) Naturally aspirated W16 (scaled off the current W12, not using the Veyron's 86x86 bore stroke) perhaps? But if the W8 Passat didn't perform as expected in the marketplace...

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@ MikeW -

they might be able to fit a second turbo stage for that 3L V6 diesel or else, Audi's 4.2L V8 diesel with twin VTG turbos (one for each bank).

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I have no problem with the V6. It would be nice to have that in the Touareg. That leaves room for VW's 'big brother' Audi to have a V8 tdi Q7. The V12tdi is just a glorious dream

Maybe VW would say, screw it, in regard to mileage and just put this engine in.
http://www.audiworld.com/news/08/rs6-avant-in-depth/engine/
It seems like the germans decided to through as much power into 1/2 cubic meter as possible.

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Well if VW is looking for ways to sell even fewer Phaetons in the States then it's on the right track. If VW really wants to make a statement, and sell cars, then a V8, V10 or V12 TDI would be the ticket rather than a measly V6 TDI. Buyers want economy without sacrificing performance.

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AutoblogGreen suggesting to go to a larger, thirstier engine? Weird.

Yeah, I think the problem is still the image. Offer the V6 diesel alongside the I4 diesel in the Passat, and then we are talking! Make sure it has more than 200 hp, closer to 240.

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