Volkswagen 2011 Phaeton can read street signs using windshield mounted camera
By Laura June 
posted June 9th 2010 9:29PM
posted June 9th 2010 9:29PM
Volkswagen's showing off its 2011 Phaeton all over the place, and it's boasting some pretty interesting features if you're the nerdy type. In addition to regular navigational systems, the Phaeton will be the first to integrate a new system which can download Google maps satellite images and points of interest info over a mobile phone, and then laid over existing maps within the GPS, providing a far superior, up to date database of information to the driver. And then there's the camera installed behind the windshield, which can read street sign information such as posted speed limits, no passing zones and the like. It also boasts Dynamic Light Assist, which makes use of the camera to scan the surrounding area for other cars that might suffer from the glare of the headlights, and responds by masking a portion of the lamp to cut said glare. Ah, fahrvergnügen.
Germans know how to build good cars!
@Mike Vick
Sup yo, got any pitbulls for sale?
Haha nah lil homie. Stopped doin that -__-
@Mike Vick
Yeah they're great cars until your warranty expires!
@simon222333 isn't this true for everything else that we buy?
@Mike Vick
If only they knew how to build beautiful cars.
@Mike Vick
All of that, save for the Google Maps bit - Mercedes has it in the redesigned S-Class. Still German, but VW is not the first.
@Mike Vick: the germans always make good stuff. [see shamwow]. But seriously, this sounds friggin amazing.
@pavlindrom And BMW has it aswell.
If you are not buying a German car, u best get a Ford (mustang is a sexy car :) :) :) ]
@Mike Vick
Actually the Phaeton is a total flop. Not even here in Germany people buy it. I wonder why this technology doesn't start with VW's real flagship the Audi A8. Will come soon hopefully.
@SeeKo Might be a flop, but its an amazing car.
@SeeKo It's a flop, because it's too expensive. It tries to be an A8, for A6 money. I'd rather buy an A6.
@muyoso
I don't deny that. It's packed with all the best features and has superb build quality. But it's branded wrong. You can't sell a car that's called Volkswagen, "peoples car" for €78,000. That's S-Class prices. That's why people don't buy it.
@SeeKo
I thought they stopped making the Phaeton years ago.
Although if anyone is interested they should check out the Phaeton factory:
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/03q3/vw_s_transparent_factory-feature
It probably has to be priced as high as it is just so VW can afford to run that factory and polish the floors!
@arkweld
Well, Volkswagen really kicks it off in China. As you can see this premiere was in Beijing as well. I guess they are hoping for it to be a bigger success there.
@Mike Vick How can you put German cars and Fords in the same category? Yeah, the new Mustang is nice, but I'm not giving up my A4 for it.
@SeeKo
The phaeton has failed for being a vw, not a audi. People would pay that if it was marketed as audi, not a vw. Even if its the same car.
@newone
That's what I meant by saying it's branded wrong.
@SeeKo agreed. cc works though. love my passat. on my 3rd vw in 12 yrs.
@SeeKo
Partly wrong brading. Partly too passat like. Might get more sales if they tweaked the front to be a bit "far out", not boring passat like.
Now only people who want luxuru car without making neighbours envy buy phaeton, so that would be rich protestants with gossiping neighbors. Germans.
@Mike Vick
That is funny... Because it looks like VW just lifted the Ford badge off a Fusion and slapped on a VDUB badge.
It's a dead ringer.
@dfreeindy
You will when you need to change a water pump and it gots you 5 grand.
@Tense No way. I have an Audi A4 3.0 Quattro, and until you have driven an Audi with Quattro you will have no idea why. I've driven faster cars, sure... but not one of them handles the way this one does. Definitely not for a Mustang, because even the Mustang GT only gets .2 of a second on me in a 0-60.
@SeeKo Agree. Great car but flopping. Not that it's surprising...how can you try to make a luxurious/business car when your brand is "the people's car"?
@dfreeindy I'm sorry but your not a good driver. Your awd Audi understeers horribly at the limit. Does it give the illusion of superior handling? Sure but that's all it is an illusion. I'll put my money on the new mustang anyday on any track over an a4 quattro
That car looks nice! And impressive features
specially the LEDs :)
very kühl
Thats great for us old, blind drivers!
I'de hit that
Bring that thing stateside.
@syko21
Agreed. It was a shame they stopped selling them here. I still think they are cool when one drives by. It's a damn nice car.
@syko21
Agreed. It was a shame they stopped selling them here. I still think they are cool when one drives by. It's a damn nice car.
Oh the mounting cameras. I remember seeing this lady totally rely on her back-up camera and slam a car in the parking lot. Fail... Both tech and human.
As long as it doesn't limit it's own speed based on the signs or refuses to go into a no passing zone.. all of that tech is ok to me.
@MaTdg
Id actually like if there was a button that made it to go as fast as the speedlimit, with a override.
@newone If you could tweak it to max out at around 5 above the speed limit everywhere, that would be about perfect.
Reminds me of a lexus on steroids, but then again i know nothing about cars.
Hopefully they bring it to the US. Why are we always the last ones to get good cars?
@Maxipad Because the Europeans are the last ones to get our iProducts and EVOs.
@evdaniken, yes, but the difference is - European cars (well, a good portion of them) are good...
@evdaniken
keep the EVO (and arent they Taiwanese products), i would rather drive around in nice cars and then after take pictures of said cars with an N8 XD.
bmw was first with the sign-reading in the 7-series
@entermaxx The substantially cheaper Opel Insignia can to that too.
I wonder if any of these cars can read this
http://a1.zoecity.net/images/uploaded/0007/1946/190d1196381112-funny-signs-good_luck_sign.jpg
I remember reading they sold in the hundreds across all the US. VW said it was never intended to be a mass production car.
It's almost as if the Phaeton is a playground for A8 features.
VW pulled this car in the US years ago after sales dropped off after the first year. It was amazing feature set but no one wanted to pay that much for something with a VW badge on it. Is VW planning to bring back to the states? Given the current economy it would be an even tougher sell a second time around.
Woot VDub FTW! I love my Jetta!
Woot VDub FTW! I love my Jetta! :-)