2017 Geneva Motor Show: Volkswagen Arteon unveiled

The new Arteon will be placed above the Passat in Volkswagen’s product portfolio

Volkswagen has taken the wraps off an all-new product, the Arteon, prior to its official debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. The car was first previewed in the Sport Coupe GTE Concept that the company showcased in 2015. This here is the production version of it and will be placed above the Passat in their portfolio. That being said, it will share the engine, platform and the chassis with the eighth-generation Passat.

In terms of design, the Arteon is typically Volkswagen thanks to its clean yet sharp lines on the shoulder and the bonnet, the twin-slat grille and the horizontally stacked LED headlights that blend with the with the radiator grille. Klaus Bischoff, Volkswagen Head of Design, “The Arteon combines the design elements of a classic sports car with the elegance and space of a fastback. An avant-garde business-class gran turismo, it speaks to the heart and the head alike.” The new Volkswagen offering will go on sale with three styling options – standard, elegance and R-line.

Based on the Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) platform, the Arteon’s wheelbase is 2,841mm long which should make ample of room on the inside for the passengers at the back. Overall dimensions of the new Arteon – 4,862mm in length, 1,871mm wide and 1,427mm tall. On the inside, the Arteon shares the dashboard with the Passat, although it has been modified for the purpose. The dash looks clean and well-built while the steering wheel is the same as the one we have seen on the current generation Volkswagen models. Taking the centre stage, the Arteon gets options of three different infotainment systems ranging from 6.5 to 9.2-inch touchscreen ones. The largest of the lot also comes with gesture control.

Under the hood, the international spec model will come with six engine options – all four-cylinder units. These engine options also include an all-new petrol engine developed by Volkswagen – a 1.5-litre unit that pumps out 148bhp in its base form. There is also the 2.0-litre TSI unit that comes in two states of tune – 187bhp and 276bhp. And then there is the Wolfsburg-based car maker’s bread and butter unit, the 2.0-litre TDI. The diesel engines will be offered in 148bhp, 187bhp and 236bhp states of tune. Volkswagen may even plan to introduce a petrol hybrid at a later stage.

Production of the Volkswagen Arteon is expected to commence around June. While there is no official confirmation about the launch of this car in India yet. Volkswagen India has their hands full currently with the Passat and the Tiguan expected to be launched in India soon.