Volkswagen PHAETON -, Manual

Page: 32 / 83

28
Body
Body Structure
The focus of the body design was a high
level of crash safety and body rigidity. The
gap dimensions for the hood, luggage
compartment lid, and doors could be
designed to be relatively narrow due to the
high rigidity of the main body structure.
The doors, luggage compartment lid, and
hood are made of aluminum. The front
fenders, and the front and rear bumpers are
made of plastic. This limits mass while still
observing high safety standards and
comfort requirements.
The main body structure consists of
high-grade and super high-strength
steels and is completely galvanized for
corrosion protection.
Static Rigidity
The extremely high static rigidity of the
body structure is a prerequisite for:
• Optimal chassis design based on an
almost complete lack of inherent
movement within the body structure.
• Excellent door, hood, and luggage
compartment lid function with the
narrowest possible gap dimensions.