A redesign is in the works, but the thought of an $80,000+ V-dub (Touaregs aside) still sounds a tad hokey. Now, were they to crank it down a level, Volkswagen could have a serious player in the affordable big-lux segment forming around Hyundai's Equus. To do so, VW would have to likely dip into the parts bin and carry over more from Audi's A6 and maybe its own Passat.
The bottom line is this: VW doesn't need an Audi A8 in its lineup, it just needs model above the Passat. Something on the A6's platform would be acceptable; how about using China's LWB A6L platform as a starting point? It could even offer V6s and V8s.
Currently, however, the Phaeton's sales are slowly growing (mostly because of its presence in China). Since the Chinese market will play such a major role in the Phaeton's future, and with the Chinese all about some LWB models, there's no reason the Phaeton couldn't move onto the A6L's platform.
Considering that the size/price gap between the Passat and Phaeton was nothing short of huge, an A6-based Phaeton would give VW a superb upper-end model that 1) doesn't distance itself too far from its roots, 2) doesn't step on the A8's toes, 3) provides a large-ish German car for consumers who don't need a badge to feel better about themselves, and 4) won't upset the big red elephant in the room.
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