Volkswagen Phaeton

The new luxury sedan features Volkswagen's new facelift adjustments; new front section with a new chrome grille, restyled headlights, a three-dimensional moulding of the grille & bonnet, and new Bi-Xenon headlamps. The car's rear has been also redesigned with new LED rear light clusters, a new three-piece chrome bar, modified side trim strips, narrower LED indicators in the wing mirrors, and new 18-inch (Experience) alloy wheels.

The 2011 Phaeton will be offered with a choice of two wheelbase options, two back seat versions (three seats / two individual seats) and four engines (a turbo diesel and three petrol engines).

The engine line-up will include: a V6 petrol engine delivering 280 HP, a V8 with 335 HP and a W12 with 450 HP. The diesel engine is a V6 TDI with 240 HP.

The luxury sedan will be offered with Dynamic Light Assist (camera-based dynamic main beam regulation) and a navigation system that, if desired, can integrate online data from Google into the map display.

The Phaeton is a good place to be, thanks to superb seats, a brilliant climate control system, fine noise isolation and a generally good ride. There's masses of room in the standard car and acres in the LWB version. Watch out for versions on too-big wheels though, as they cause a bit of thumping from below. It shows you have money, but also that you don't know how to use it.If you were to set off a large nuclear device inside the Volkswagen Phaeton, the large nuclear device would probably come off worse. The interior is solidly built using the finest leather and wood Volkswagen could find. All the buttons and switches have a fabulous damped action and there's thankfully, nothing recognisable from the Polo. The engines and running gear are extremely strong and should be still ticking over when you've gone to the knacker's yard. Air suspension with four-stage adjustable damping doesn't tackle nuggety surfaces or abrupt undulations as well as expected but, left in mid-position, proves a competent all-rounder. Levels of grip are high, though, and it can be leaned through corners quite quickly despite its bulk. The interior is huge with plenty of space front and rear for heads, knees and shoulders. The boot is similarly huge at 500 litres, with excellent access to make it easier loading your employer's suitcases and golf clubs. The long wheel base version gives an extra 120mm additional rear legroom.