Volkswagen is expanding its model range with the debut of an avant-garde gran turismo: the new Volkswagen Arteon. Positioned above the Passat, the premium class Arteon is being revealed to a global audience for the first time at the 2017 Geneva International Motor Show.
Gran Turismo
The five-seat Arteon is an ideal avant-garde alternative – a car for people who want a five-door fastback with an accomplished, elegant design and progressive technology.
Perfect proportions
The new Volkswagen Arteon is based on the Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB). Transverse stands here for engines that are transversely mounted in the front. This configuration naturally creates space. A long wheelbase of 2,841 mm spans the two axes. Accordingly, the body overhangs of the 4,862 mm long fastback model are short and concise. The Arteon is 1,871 mm wide and 1,427 mm tall. These dimensional relationships deliver truly dynamic proportions – a visual starting point for Volkswagen designers.
Charismatic Arteon breathes dynamism
One of the most important design elements of the charismatic new Arteon is the front section. Stand-out features include a bonnet that extends a long way forward and partially over both wings and a radiator grille that encompasses the vehicle’s full width. The LED headlights and daytime running lights, fitted as standard, combine with the chrome-plated cross-bars of the radiator grille and bonnet. The result is a front-end design that would be a match even for a high-calibre sports car.
Pure sporting doctrine
Designed in the style of a sports car are the striking and powerful shoulder sections at the rear, the muscular wings and the flared wheel arches above the up-to-20-inch alloy wheels. Seen in silhouette between the axles is a waistline that also follows a pure sports car design doctrine.
Passat, Arteon, Phideon
The Volkswagen Arteon takes its place in the Volkswagen model range above the Passat in all of the various Passat versions sold around the globe. Following one level up from the Arteon comes the Phideon that has been specially developed for China. The new Volkswagen gran turismo is being produced at the German plant in Emden. It is a site with an adjoining sea port – perfectly suited to a car like the Arteon that will be launched in practically every country in the world that is relevant to this vehicle class. The car launches in mid-June in the German market, with advance orders being taken in the first few European countries starting immediately after the Volkswagen Arteon’s world premiere in Geneva.
Innovative, economical and perfectly suited to everyday use
The Arteon is reinterpreting the ‘gran turismo’ concept with its combination of avant-garde design, sporty charisma, great flexibility and generous space. Further aspects that would be considered plus points in any vehicle class include excellent rear legroom and luggage space of 563 to 1,557 litres. On the technical front, the new Volkswagen impresses with six highly efficient engines (power output range from 110 kW / 150 PS to 206 kW / 280 PS), front-wheel or all-wheel drive, plus digitalised displays and controls. Further features include an Active Info Display (fully digital and programmable instruments), a head-up display and the new Discover Pro infotainment system with a 9.2-inch glass screen and gesture control.
Interactive assistance systems look ahead
The Arteon’s innovative driver assistance and convenience systems match its avant-garde concept. Three of its new technologies illustrate this. The latest generation of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) now takes into account data such as speed limits and route information and automatically adjusts driving speed accordingly. Thanks to the navigation system’s GPS and road data, 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. The second generation of Emergency Assist offers more safety: if the driver becomes incapacitated for health reasons, the system not only slows the car down within system limits, but now also steers it into the slow lane, traffic behind permitting.
Three lines facilitate a high degree of personalisation
Despite its progressive concept, the Arteon is a car available at an attractive price. Along with the high-quality base version, the gran turismo will be available in two exclusive equipment lines: the ‘Elegance’ and ‘R-Line’. The name says it all. The standard configuration of the Volkswagen Arteon Elegance is focused primarily on premium class equipment and style. The Arteon R-Line, meanwhile, puts sportiness even more at the heart of the vehicle’s configuration – as is typical of all Volkswagen R-Line models. Based on the different orientations of these three equipment lines, the fastback model can be personalised extensively. The range of optional equipment includes features such as a panoramic tilt/slide sunroof, three-zone automatic air conditioning (Air Care Climatronic including air quality sensor and allergen filter), massage seats in front, heated steering wheel and two-tone nappa leather interior.
The six engines deliver between 150 and 280 PS
The new Arteon is launching with a range of six turbocharged direct fuel injection engines. All of the engines have four cylinders. The first two power levels of the petrol (TSI) and diesel (TDI) engines are identical at 110 kW / 150 PS and 140 kW / 190 PS. The most powerful TSI delivers 206 kW / 280 PS, while the most powerful TDI produces 176 kW / 240 PS. The base petrol engine, the 1.5 TSI Evo, is a new design and, thanks to such features as Active Cylinder Management (ACT), it is exceptionally efficient.
Dual clutch gearbox for all versions
Any of the engines may be combined with an automated dual clutch gearbox (DSG; except the 110 kW TSI in Germany that is only available with a manual gearbox). For the TSI engines, DSG is standard for the 140 kW engine and above. In the case of the TDI, DSG is fitted as standard in the 176 kW version. The most powerful TSI and TDI engines also have 4MOTION all-wheel drive as standard, while this is available as an option for the 140-kW TDI. All other models have front-wheel drive.
Design overcomes class barriers
Viewing the Arteon’s front end without focusing on the details, the first impression is that of a dynamic gran turismo that borders on being both a sports model and a saloon – a gran turismo. But as soon as the details are considered it becomes clear how expressive and logical, harmonious and precise the design is. That is because good design is no accident. Rather, it is a symbiosis of creativity, precision and a high level of handcrafting art. In the case of a car, there is the added challenge that breathtaking ideas also need to be industrially viable. In the Arteon, these parameters merge into a gran turismo whose design overcomes class barriers.
LEDs and radiator grille merge
All of the contoured lines of the bonnet are extended to the radiator grille – and vice versa. The grille, in turn, emphasises the significant width of the Volkswagen Arteon in its cross-slats. There is no Volkswagen radiator grille that is wider or deeper than the one on this gran turismo – it is the ‘face’ of a new Volkswagen generation. The upper cross-bars enclose the LED headlights, and they simultaneously use finely integrated LED light conductors to perform the functions of daytime running lights and position lights, and, in the top version, the indicator light function. The lighting elements, radiator grille and bonnet now form one harmonious unit. The bonnet, which extends slightly over the LED headlights makes a tremendous contribution towards the superior qualities of the front-end design. The bonnet lip runs over the headlights while continuing the lines of the radiator grille further into the sides and to the rear of the Arteon. On the sides, the sharp bonnet lines over the wheel wells give the Arteon an extremely low and sporty look.
Digital cockpit environment
The clean design, high level of ergonomic efficiency and numerous interactive interfaces between human and machine create a calm, elegant and progressive atmosphere in the new Arteon. The interactive and digitalised interfaces include optional high-tech features such as the Active Info Display (fully digitalised instruments) and a head-up display. Volkswagen has developed new infotainment systems (6.5 to 9.2 inch). The new top system, the Discover Pro, has a tablet-like glass surface. It manages its tasks efficiently, and entirely without analogue buttons. The 9.2-inch display is also equipped with intuitive gesture control.
The Arteon is reinterpreting the “gran turismo” concept with its combination of avant-garde design, sporting charisma, great flexibility and generous space. Further aspects that would be considered plus points in any vehicle class include excellent rear legroom and luggage space of 563 to 1,557 litres.
Air vent band as a design statement
The way in which a line, designed as a single visual unit of the dashboard and door shoulders, appears to wrap around the five passengers like a cocoon is unconventional and unique. The horizontally oriented dashboard transitions homogeneously into the front door trim panels. The team, led by Volkswagen Head of Interior Design, Tomasz Bachorski, designed the dashboard with a simplified layout that runs in a straight line with a clean and iconic design. The central design element of the dashboard is an innovative air vent – designed as a functional yet decorative element – that extends across the entire width of the interior like a band. This impression is completed by fine chrome trim strips on the vent louvres, which create a visual link to the cross-bars of the newly developed Volkswagen Arteon radiator grille.
Elegant ambient lighting
Beneath the air vent and a decorative panel there is an extremely low-profile ambient lighting strip that continues into the doors. Its wrap-around lighting effect defines the space and creates a soothing and pleasant ambience. The centre console fits in well with the Arteon’s avant-garde and sporty character. It ascends steeply towards the dashboard, as in a sports car, where it meets the climate controls and the latest generation infotainment systems.
Best in class legroom
In front, the driver and front passenger benefit from the excellent package provided by the Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB); a lot of space is created by the transversely mounted engine and the front axle that is forward positioned. The long wheelbase of 2,841 mm is therefore used to create very spacious premium class accommodation for rear passengers. Consider legroom, for instance: the figure of 1,016 mm attained here is the best in the competitive set. Rear headroom is also excellent thanks to the long roof. The second seat row is equipped with a three-person rear bench. The two outer seat positions have the visual and ergonomic character of individual seats.
