THIS IS THE new Volkswagen Arteon, which made its world debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. It is based on the Sport Coupe GTE concept that was shown off during the 2015 show and it replaces the CC and Passat CC before that.
The Arteon is a five-door five-seat gran turismo which is positioned above the successful Passat. It is built on Volkswagen’s Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) architecture – transverse stands here for engines that are transversely mounted in the front. The new Golf also uses this platform.
At 4,862mm long, 1,871mm wide and 1,427mm tall, the Arteon is 60mm longer, 16mm wider and 10mm taller than its CC predecessor. The Arteon’s wheelbase of 2,841mm is 131mm longer than the CC and 50mm longer than the existing Passat. This should mean good news for rear passengers in terms of extra legroom, although no measurements have been given as of yet.
The fastback style has a large opening hatch for easy loading of items into the boot which has a capacity of 563 to 1,557 litres. This is an improvement over the 532 litres of the CC and 586 litres of the Passat saloon but it is still less than the Passat estate at 650 to 1,780 litres.
The front of the car features a long bonnet with LED headlights and DLRs as standard which combine with the chrome-plated cross-bars of the large bold radiator grille to create a chic yet sporty look.
The front and rear overhangs are short and concise, the sides have defined swage lines and the wheel arches are nicely flared and filled with alloys available in sizes up to 20 inches (17-inch wheels are standard).
The interior isn’t dissimilar to the current Passat and features the same, optional, Active Info Display (fully digital and programmable instruments) and new Discover Pro infotainment system with a 9.2-inch glass screen and gesture control as seen in the new Golf. There is also the option of a head-up display.
Safety is taken care of with new assistance systems that look forward and react to speed limits, bends and roundabouts. The latest-generation Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) takes into account speed limits and route information and automatically adjusts driving speed accordingly.
The new dynamic cornering lights with predictive beam control anticipate when a bend is approaching and illuminate it before the driver actively turns into the bend; and the new generation of Emergency Assist now not only slows the car down when it detects an incapacitated driver, but also steers it into the slow lane, traffic behind permitting.
It will come in three trims – a base version, an ‘Elegance’ line, which will focus on premium class equipment and style and a more sporty R-Line trim.
Power will come from six familiar Volkswagen Group engines. All are four-cylinder units with turbocharging. However, the final line up for Ireland is not yet confirmed.
Petrol options are:
Diesel options are:
The car launches in mid-June in the German market and should be here in time for the 172 registration period. No Irish prices have been confirmed yet but a good bet for the entry-level models is just over €40,000.
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