The Volkswagen Arteon, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, is described by its makers as “a five-door gran turismo”.
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Effectively replacing the previous CC model, the Arteon is designed to sit at the top of the Volkswagen range above the Passat. It is expected to target upmarket rivals such as the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe when it goes on sale in the Autumn of 2017.
VW states that the Arteon “combines the design elements of a sports car with the elegance and space of a fastback”. The car sits on a very long wheelbase, taking up 2,841mm of the 4,862mm overall length, which, combined with a 1,871mm width and 1,427mm height, promises impressive space in the five-seat cabin.
The Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) platform on which the Volkswagen Arteon is built adds to this space, the transverse mounting of the engine permitting a more compact front end.
Six-strong engine range
Six engines will be available, all direct injection turbo units. Petrol and diesel options will each be available in 150 and 190hp outputs, with the 150 petrol a new engine to the Volkswagen range and boasting active cylinder management that shuts down a bank to save fuel when the engine is not under load.
The range-topping petrol unit will offer 280hp, its diesel equivalent 240hp, and all six engines will be able to be combined with a dual-clutch DSG gearbox – this is standard on all but the entry-level petrol unit and the most powerful diesel.
Volkswagen is highlighting new styling elements on the Arteon, particularly the front-end. This includes a bonnet stretching forward and over each wing with a grille emphasising the car’s width.
Muscular wings and flared wheel arches house alloy wheels of up to 20 inches in diameter and are prime styling elements of the Arteon.
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According to Volkswagen design head Klaus Bischoff, the Arteon is a car for people who want a five-door fastback with an accomplished, elegant design and progressive technology.
Bischoff says: “An avant-garde business-class gran turismo, it speaks to the heart and the head alike.”
