More Spy Shots of Volkswagen Phideon sedan, showing a completely un-camouflaged example in white. The Phideon debuted last month in Geneva but it will only be marketed in China, starting in September. It is the production version of the Volkswagen C Coupe GTE concept.

The Phideon will be manufactured in China by the Shanghai-Volkswagen joint venture. It will be positioned between the Volkswagen Passat/Megotan and the Volkswagen Phaeton. It stands on the same stretched version of the MLB 2 platform as the China-made Audi A6L.

The Phideon will be available with two engines:

1) a 3.0 TSI V6 petrol with an output of 300hp and 440nm, mated to an eight-speed DCT, sending power to all four wheels.

2) a 2.0 TSI petrol with an output of 250hp and 350nm, eight speed DCT, and front wheel drive.

A hybrid will join the line-up later.

Price for the 2.0 will start around 320.000 yuan, and price for the V6 around 360.000 yuan.

For comparison, the China-made Audi A6L with the 272hp 3.0 TSI costs 520.000 yuan. Price of the China-made Passat/Megotan starts at 190.000 and ends at 340.000 yuan. The imported Phaeton goes from 760.000 to 1.88 million yuan.

The Phideon name comes from the Roman goddess Fides, and symbolizes (according to Volkswagen marketing-speak) ‘perfection, elegance, and and trustworthiness’.

Going for yet another large sedans is a fuzzy choice for Volkswagen, in a market that screams for compact SUV’s, premium compact SUV’s, compact crossovers, and premium compact crossovers, all of which Volkswagen doesn’t have and doesn’t have under development. The other car that is coming soon is a new large SUV, to be positioned between the Touran and Touareg. That too is another one the market does not really need.

Brake lights on.

Chrome strip running through the lights, and another one connecting the pipes.

Heading for slow sales..?