An avant-garde Gran Turismo with svelte fastback styling, the new five-door, five-seat Volkswagen Arteon combines sports car detailing with luxury motoring in a muscular yet elegant design.
Sitting above the globally successful Passat in the comprehensive Volkswagen range the new Arteon brings more space, premium functionality and greater levels of autonomy than ever before.
With a length of 4,862 mm, width of 1,871 mm and a height of 1,450 mm the Arteon is proportioned to carry five people in considerable comfort, while the generous wheelbase of 2,837 mm allows best-in-class legroom of 1,016 mm. Luggage space is 563 litres with the rear seats in place, rising to a cavernous 1,557 litres of available carrying capacity when the rear seats are folded.
Bristling with advanced technology, including the debut of a number of newly enhanced assistance systems, the Arteon is efficient and powerful with a distinct performance character, yet it is also a comfortable and relaxing drive.
Powerful, yet frugal
In the UK, the Arteon range will initially feature three turbo charged direct injection engines: a 280 PS 2.0 TSI (petrol); and two 2.0 TDI (diesel) engines with outputs of 240 PS and 150 PS.
In due course, additional engines will complete the range including Volkswagen’s newly designed 150 PS 1.5 TSI (petrol) Evo unit, featuring economy-boosting cylinder deactivation technology; and a 190 PS 2.0 TSI (petrol).
All the transversely mounted four cylinder engines can be combined with an automated DSG dual clutch seven-speed gearbox while the most potent units – the 280 PS 2.0 TSI and 240 PS 2.0 TDI – also boast Volkswagen 4MOTION all-wheel drive as standard. All other models have front-wheel drive. Additionally, 150 PS petrol- and diesel-engined Arteons will offer the option of a six-speed manual gearbox.
With a compelling breadth of performance and economy possibilities, the Arteon will sprint from 0-62 mph in 5.4 seconds in 2.0 TSI 280 PS guise, while the 2.0 TDI 150 PS-equipped Arteon will offer 62.8 mpg* in the EU’s official combined fuel economy measure.
Solid, and safe
The new Arteon is based on Volkswagen’s impressively flexible modular transverse matrix (MQB). All of the brand’s MQB models – currently ranging from the latest Golf to the US-built Atlas SUV – are characterised by their distinctly dynamic proportions and generous interior space which results from the axles being ‘pushed’ towards the front and rear of the vehicle. This, too, is a feature of the new Arteon.
From a structural standpoint, the MQB provides extremely high body rigidity resulting from the use of a combination of so-called ultra high-strength and hot-stamped steels. This is critical to achieving optimal handling and superior ride comfort.
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