REPORT: VW CEO confirms Phaeton will return to America, doesn’t say when

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Volkswagen, Luxury

Volkswagen Phaeton – Click above for high-res image gallery

At least as far back as March 2007, we were reporting that Volkswagen might bring back their range-topping and bank-draining Phaeton sedan to the States. Back then, it was the company’s CEO Martin Winterkorn predicting the car’s return to America, but in more recent times, we haven’t heard much news about the luxury liner. Then spyshots of a re-designed 2011 Phaeton emerged in June of this year, but we speculated there was zero chance of the much-maligned model being sold here.

Of course, Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volkswagen of America had to prove us wrong by telling The Detroit News that yes, there will again be Phaetons sold on American VW dealers’ lots. He doesn’t get specific about when the luxury sedan will return (or even if it will be anything like the model American consumers already shunned), but he does say it will indeed be the range’s high-end flagship once again.

Jacoby also lays out the brand’s U.S. strategy to pretty much have something to offer in every category save perhaps amphibious vehicles. He admits additions to the German carmaker’s U.S. lineup could include a Polo-sized car below the Jetta, a compact SUV to be produced next to a new midsize sedan in Chattanooga, which will be topped by another new midsize sedan “like the Avalon for Toyota.”

Gallery: VW Phaeton (facelifted)