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Rating

Verdict A supermodel in all but looks

This Volkswagen Phaeton is, in essence, a Bentley Continental GT minus the turbocharging and the chromed smooth-action ventilation knobs. It has the same 6 litre W12 engine, the same four-wheel-drive system and the same extraordinary attention to detail.

In a Phaeton, you could drive at 155mph all day when it’s 122F outside and the air-conditioning would maintain a constant temperature of 71.6F. This is guaranteed.

There’s more. It has the best seats fitted to any car, the interior is fitted with a dehumidifier so the windows will not steam up no matter what, and it has adjustable suspension. Turn a knob one way and it’s like you’re coming home on a cloud. Turn it the other and it feels as if your hair’s on fire.

Of course, you may think that £74,000 is a lot of money for a Volkswagen. But the main reason you stay away is because it looks so dreary.

So what I suggest is that VW now gives it to a Dane.

Let me put it this way. You all want an Aston Martin, don’t you? You know it’s made up of Ford bits but you don’t care. You want one because it looks so amazing. Right. And where was the designer of the V8 Vantage from? Well, let me put it this way. He’s called Henrik Fisker.

Current price £74,770

Price when tested (Nov 2007) £74,272

Engine 5998cc, 12 cylinders

Power 444bhp @ 6050rpm

Torque 413 lb ft @ 2750rpm

Transmission Five-speed automatic

Fuel 19.5mpg (combined) / 348g/km

0-62mph 6.1sec

Top speed 155mph (limited)