Who said style and substance couldn't go hand-in-hand?
Ahead of its official debut at the Geneva motorshow in a couple of days, Volkswagen has unveiled the 2017 Arteon. Replacing the CC ‘comfort coupe,’ it slots above the Passat in the global lineup, and will sit below the China-exclusive Phideon (which is like a Passat on steroids, but short of the Phaeton limousine).
It shares its bones with the Passat and VW’s MQB platform, and six engines were detailed at launch. The MQB platform allows the Arteon to offer front- and all-wheel drive, and all powerplants count just four cylinders. The petrol range kicks off with a 110kW 1.5-litre, with a 2.0-litre capable of 140kW & 206kW depending on specification. A seven-speed dual-clutch DSG automatic is standard fitment on petrol models, with a six-speed manual available as an option on the smallest 1.5-litre unit. All-wheel drive is standard on the fastest petrol, too.
There’s technically only one diesel engine, a 2.0-litre turbodiesel. That engine is available in 110kW, 140kW, and 176kW states of tune, with the same seven-speed DSG automatic being standard fare here, with a six-speed manual available on the lower two variants. The 176kW range-topping diesel also comes with all-wheel drive, an option available on the 140kW model.
The Arteon is larger than the vehicle it replaces in every dimension. It measures 4862mm in length, 1871mm in width, 1427mm in height, and the wheelbase comes in at 2841mm. It’s even bigger than the Passat it’s based on, though the roofline sits 29mm lower. The Arteon’s lift back body style means that there’s masses of practicality on offer, with 563L of cargo space in the rear, with 1557L available with the rear seats folded flat.
Style-wise, the Arteon cuts a sharper suit than the Passat it’s based on, and the CC it replaces. The full-LED headlights (which are standard fare) integrate seamlessly into the grille, while the rear features LED illumination throughout as well. The added length over the Passat means that while the roofline may be dramatic, there will likely be little compromise in terms of rear headroom. Being a plusher alternative to the Passat saloon, the cabin receives certain material refinements over its vanilla saloon sibling, though the architecture is largely carried over wholesale.
Notable Arteon features include alloy wheels (between 17-inches and 20-inches in size), a fully-digital instrument cluster (like Audi’s Virtual Cockpit), and a large 9.2-inch Discover Pro infotainment system (that debuted first on the facelifted Golf hatchback) replete with gesture control. There’s an interesting active cruise control that utilises GPS data to refine its operation, as well as massage seats for the front passengers, and a panoramic sunroof.
As per earlier reports, the Arteon will go on sale in our market in September this year, after European sales commence in the middle of June.
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