Volkswagen did not must make the Phaeton, and arguably, it most likely should not have been something greater than a enjoyable thought. Nonetheless, I could not be happier that Volkswagen really did. Obligatory vehicles are so boring and do not even supply a W12 as an possibility, which can make them extra worthwhile, however the place’s the enjoyable in making a revenue? I additionally love educated individuals nerding out on particulars they discover fascinating, so final week, I needed to share a video I discovered that spent seven minutes speaking in regards to the Phaeton’s trunk. Now, it is time to take 21 minutes to study in regards to the Phaeton’s local weather management system.
How can heating and cooling a automotive’s cabin be fascinating? Nicely, Ferdinand Piëch actually discovered a method, and that was to insist on one thing so overly difficult that it is principally a miracle engineers within the late ’90s may even make it occur. The web had already been invented again then, however most individuals have been on AOL dial-up, and computer systems have been past sluggish by right this moment’s requirements. However Piëch wished what he wished, and that included a local weather management system with zero compromises, even when few house owners would ever totally recognize what the engineers achieved.
Heating and cooling necessities
For those who’re conversant in the Phaeton, you most likely know that Piëch gave his engineers an extended listing of very particular necessities for Volkswagen’s flagship sedan. What you could not understand, although, is simply how obsessed he was with the local weather management system. And no, the phrase “obsessed” just isn’t an exaggeration, with the manager reportedly as soon as saying, “if I ever compelled one among my hobbies into one among my automotive tasks, it was the Phaeton’s draft-free A/C system.”
When it was chilly, Piëch wished a automotive that might defrost its home windows as quick as potential and heat the cabin shortly sufficient that you just would not even must put on a jacket. That meant including an additional heater that additionally got here with its personal exhaust system and used a gas pump that used an electromagnetic piston to maintain issues as quiet as potential. Engineers added the power to set a begin time to your Phaeton so it might already be warmed up by the point you left for work within the morning, however you possibly can additionally flip it on from the important thing fob, and it had an automated mode that allowed the ECU to show it on each time it determined that was crucial. It used extra gasoline, particularly when solely driving quick distances, certain, however that is simply the price of consolation.
That is additionally only the start, too. When you hit that time within the video, there are nonetheless greater than quarter-hour left to go. So I say relax, give the whole factor a watch and luxuriate in studying much more about an outdated Volkswagen’s air con system. The day is principally already over, and also you deserve a break that includes one thing much more fascinating than all that boring work you are being paid to do. Simply watch out. It’d result in a bit Phaeton window buying, and that may solely finish poorly. Except…
