The Volkswagen Phaeton is a automotive you may by no means make once more. It is a product of a really particular time and place, and the imaginative and prescient of the late Ferdinand Piëch, grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, then chairman of VW, and a person with a flare for sophisticated engineering. This was a Volkswagen provided with each diesel V-10 and gasoline W-12 engine choices. A Volkswagen that outdid Mercedes at its personal sport. And one with essentially the most hilariously overcomplicated trunk mechanism.

An mechanically opening and shutting trunk is not a giant deal now, and even when the Phaeton debuted in 2004, it wasn’t mind-blowing in and of itself. However, the best way VW designed the Phaeton’s trunk mechanism was so over-the-top.

As my favourite YouTuber B Sport—a road- and race-car engineer and Phaeton proprietor—particulars on this video, the Phaeton had its personal hydraulic system. An electro-mechanical pump within the right-hand facet of the automotive actuates a hydraulic cylinder that is linked to the hinges on both facet. You do not see any of the hydraulic system, however what you do see is the hinge mechanism, which is made up of cast aluminum arms and brackets. It is a murals in itself. There’s additionally a gasoline strut on both facet as a result of, properly, in fact there’s.

And that is not all! VW additionally designed a mechanism that retracts the lock behind a trim panel because the trunk opens, so you do not bump up in opposition to it. Which, you understand, occurs on a regular basis, proper? 

It is a triumph of engineers over accountants, all in service of one thing that, positive, a buyer will see, however most likely will not enhance their life in any significant means. Easy electrical motors will do the job, so why hassle with all this?

Picture by: Volkswagen

On high of that, this loopy hydraulic system was solely used on the Phaeton and its Bentley sibling, the Flying Spur. All that improvement cash for a trunk mechanism on two automobiles.

At this time, the Phaeton is an icon for its wild engineering. Nevertheless it was a failure in its day. Seems that even in case you make the most effective automotive on the planet however stick a VW badge on the grille, nobody will purchase it. It would not matter that the Phaeton was higher than a 7 Collection or an S-Class. Luxurious clients weren’t . And VW absolutely misplaced a lot cash on this stuff.

We’ll by no means see something like this once more. We’re previous the purpose of the cost-no-object automotive, and whereas that is perhaps for the higher, it is unhappy for the fanatic. So we’ll look again on the Phaeton with admiration.