Rendering - Next gen Volkswagen Phaeton

Though it may be the oldest car in what can be called a very young product lineup, the first generation Volkswagen Phaeton is still on sale in a few markets including Germany.

While it has embraced a few makeovers over the years, it never was a profitable car for the brand that otherwise considers the Phaeton as a test bench for new technologies that trickled down to lower models.

However, the 12-year lifespan of the ageing flagship might soon come to an end as Volkswagen will launch a next generation Phaeton in 2017, that will be brimming with technology and opulent in space. The next-gen limo is expected to sit on VW Group's MLB Evo platform and will offer class leading smoothness and luxury, according to Volkswagen development chief Heinz-Jakob Neusser.

On the design front, we would expect nothing more than a stretched Passat with a few elements to distinguish itself, though a completely unique design identity would earn positive praise, not just from us, but from the auto community alike.

Competitors: Chrysler 300, Ford Taurus, Chevrolet Impala

Expected price: Less than $50,000 (INR 30.54 lakhs)

Expected launch date: Mid-2017

[Source - TheophilusChin.com]