Volkswagen did not must make the Phaeton, and arguably, it in all probability should not have been something greater than a enjoyable concept. 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 concerning the Phaeton’s trunk. Now, it is time to take 21 minutes to study concerning the Phaeton’s local weather management system.
How can heating and cooling a automotive’s cabin be fascinating? Properly, Ferdinand Piëch actually discovered a technique, and that was to insist on one thing so overly difficult that it is mainly a miracle engineers within the late ’90s might 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 gradual by as we speak’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 completed.
Heating and cooling necessities
If you happen to’re aware of the Phaeton, you in all probability know that Piëch gave his engineers an extended record 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” is just not an exaggeration, with the manager reportedly as soon as saying, “if I ever compelled considered one of my hobbies into considered one of 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 attainable and heat the cabin rapidly 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 gasoline pump that used an electromagnetic piston to maintain issues as quiet as attainable. Engineers added the flexibility to set a begin time in your Phaeton so it will already be warmed up by the point you left for work within the morning, however you could possibly additionally flip it on from the important thing fob, and it had an automated mode that allowed the ECU to show it on at any time when it determined that was crucial. It used extra gasoline, particularly when solely driving brief distances, positive, however that is simply the price of consolation.
That is additionally just the start, too. When you hit that time within the video, there are nonetheless greater than quarter-hour left to go. So I say sit back, give your complete factor a watch and luxuriate in studying way more about an outdated Volkswagen’s air-con system. The day is mainly already over, and also you deserve a break that includes one thing way more fascinating than all that boring work you are being paid to do. Simply watch out. It’d result in a bit of Phaeton window purchasing, and that may solely finish poorly. Until…
