IT will soon be possible to spend more than £75,000 for a Volkswagen with the impending arrival of the revised Phaeton luxury saloon.
Despite the current financial climate and the Phaeton being the company's slowest-ever selling model, it is to move even more upmarket in January with a price hike into the bargain.
It means that the most expensive 12 cylinder 6.0-litre petrol version will rise from the current list price of £74,900 to a new high of £75,395.
The entry-level 3.0-litre V6 TDI goes up from £43,765 to £44,235 while the 4.2-litre V8 petrol model quietly disappears from the price list.
Volkswagen says it believes that the Phaeton is good for the brand because of the halo effect emanating from the quality of the car's craftsmanship regardless of the number of buyers it attracts.
Similar money buys rival German Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series luxury saloons, both of which are also available in long wheelbase forms.
When the revised Phaeton arrives here in January it will feature a new touchscreen satellite navigation and a new climate control system plus a refreshed instrument cluster and multifunction display.
A Side Scan blind-spot monitor will be available as an option for the first time.
This system monitors the area next to the vehicle and acts as a lane-changing aid with an audible alert and a lamp in the wing mirrors to warn of the danger of collision.
Other new options are a rear-view camera and 1,000-watt Dynaudio soundpack, which includes a 12-channel digital amplifier and a dozen speakers.
Subtle design tweaks have been made to the exterior, including a revised front grille incorporating an extraordinarily large Volkswagen badge in the centre.
There are also new metallic paint finishes and alloy wheels.
All models have four-wheel drive and are available with a long wheelbase, giving 12cm more rear legroom, while the 3.0-litre V6 TDI now also comes with a standard wheelbase option.