Larger next-gen Volkswagen Phaeton to feature an all-aluminum body – report

A latest report indicates that the next-gen Volkswagen Phaeton will grow in size and will also feature an all-aluminum body.

We clearly know that the Phaeton needs a replacement at the earliest taking into consideration the model has been on sale since more than a decade with first sale in 2002. It did receive significant facelifts in 2007 and 2010 but even so Volkswagen needs a new range-topping model as soon as possible to keep up with its German rivals.

Last year rumors about a concept serving as a preview for the second-gen model had emerged and indicated a 2014 debut at North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) this month in Detroit but apparently Volkswagen decided in the last minute not to show the car because the production model is still far away.

However when it will eventually reach dealerships, the new Phaeton will be bigger in size as compared to the current model and will also make use of an all-aluminum body. We can also expect to find smaller engines and possibly a plug-in hybrid variant while the thirsty W12 engine will probably be axed.