Volkswagen Australia has just unveiled an industry-wide collaboration project, dubbed the ART3on: a track-ready customised Arteon sedan built by a team of VW apprentices. Volkswagen Australia’s Apprentice Build Challenge selects a team of high-achieving VW apprentices test their skills on a unique build design. Last year’s team turned a 2.2-tonne Amarok V6 ute into a race-going track vehicle that became a viral superstar on social media and has set impressive lap times around Australia’s premier tracks.
This year Volkswagen has offered up another unlikely vehicle to customise: the Arteon luxury saloon. The apprentices had one week to turn the AUS70,000 sedan into a record breaking track car. The apprentices were monitored by Volkswagen Australia’s technical division and innovators from the Australian automotive community. Luka Popovac, national customer experience and capability manager, said that the program, now in its second year, is “unique in the Australian automotive sector”.
The result is also unique: 360 kilowatt race-ready car complete with a one-of artwork created for the car by renowned Sydney street artist Simon Murray, AKA KADE. At its official unveiling at World Time Attack Challenge on Friday the car will be driven at Sydney Motorsport Park by in-demand driver Renato Loberto. The ART3on makes 360kW of power and 600Nm of torque. Tested on an uphill straight at Luddenham Raceway in Sydney it reached 100km/h from standing in 3.9 seconds.
