Document

The name Arteon – with the emphasis put on the first syllable – is made up of two component parts: ‘Art’ describes the fastback’s harmonious lines and emotionality. The ending ‘eon’ identifies it, in the same way as Volkswagen’s top model for the Chinese market, the Phideon, as a premium model.

Combining avant-garde design with a high level of versatility was the key objective for designers and developers of the Arteon. This resulted in an interior architecture which is exceptionally spacious – with ample head and leg room at all seats – which is extraordinary for this body form. Key design elements of the charismatic Arteon include its completely new front end, in which the LED headlights and daytime running lights merge with the chrome-plated crossbars of the radiator grille and the bonnet. The car’s remarkable shoulder section is another defining feature of its design. 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.

The Exterior

Perfect Proportions

The new Arteon is based on the Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB). This configuration naturally creates space. A long wheelbase of 2,841 mm spans the two axles. 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.

Pure Sporting Design

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. The overall car design develops from the active bonnet (with integrated safety mechanism for pedestrian protection) and the interconnected grille. The fact is that in the automotive world, a bonnet that extends over the entire front end up to the wheel arches is primarily a feature of classic sports cars. “It is one of the largest bonnets in the entire Volkswagen Group”, according to Tobias Sühlmann. The Volkswagen exterior designer explains further: “It is really like that of a sports car. When you open the bonnet you see the wheel housing shells.That is unconventional for a car of this type.“

Interactive Assistance Systems

One of the biggest points for us is the fact that the Arteon sports a parking assistant that actually works. All it takes is the simple press of a button and all you have to do is control the throttle and brake. The Arteon’s innovative driver assistance and convenience systems match its avant-garde concept and goes beyond the parking assist. 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.

A World Of Colour

The styling lines of the Arteon are as precise as they are dynamic, and they are accentuated by many new exterior body colours. These include the distinctive hues “Curcuma Yellow”, “Atlantic Blue” and “Chili Red”. Fitting in well with the progressive character of the Arteon is “Curcuma Yellow”, for instance – a colour inspired by a sense of lightness and sunshine, and which accentuates the sporty character of the new gran turismo.

The Interior

The Digital Cockpit

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 which is standard on the R-Line (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 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 two outer seat positions have the visual and ergonomic character of individual seats.

Colour and Trim

Sportiness and elegance are the dominant aspects of the Arteon. The Colour & Trim design area has also co-ordinated its selection of materials and colours to these aspects in the interior of this gran turismo. Two interior colour themes (black, dark grey and a combination of dark and light grey) match the range of exterior colours. In the Elegance, you get Titanium Black seats, instrument panel and carpets with a Mistral Grey headliner. In the R-Line, you get Titanium Black seats, instrument panel, carpets and headliner.

Safety systems

The Arteon’s innovative driver assistance and convenience systems match its progressive overall concept. In the event of a collision with a pedestrian or cyclist, the active bonnet of the new Arteon is raised in a matter of seconds. This occurs once a message from the relevant sensors has been sent to the airbag control unit. This initiates the ignition of the pyrotechnic actuators, which, in turn, raise the active hinges in a matter of seconds. By triggering this hinge, the end of the bonnet next to the windscreen lifts up by around 60 mm, which increases the deformation space across very hard parts of the cylinder block and provides a cushion in the event of a collision, particularly for the victim’s head – this is standard across the range.

The Machine

Efficient TSI and TDI Engines

The new Arteon is launching with two turbocharged direct fuel injection engines. All of the engines have four cylinders. The diesel engine delivers 130kW while the powerful TSI delivers 206kW.

The Engine(s)

The four-cylinder diesel 2.0 TDI with 130kW power output has 350 Nm of torque that is available between 1 608and 3 500rpm. The combined fuel consumption is 5.6 litres per 100 kilometers. The engine is available with a 6-speed DSG transmission. The top of the range petrol engine is the 2.0 TSI with 206kW power output. It has 350 Nm of torque that is available from 1 700 up to 5 600 rpm. The 0-100km/h sprint is achieved in 5.6 seconds and has top speed of 250km/h. The combined fuel consumption is 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres. The 206kW engine is only available with a 7-speed DSG transmission.

Models And Prices

2.0 TDI 130kW Elegance DSG R599 900

2.0 TDI 130 kW R-Line DSG R649 900

2.0 TSI 206kW R-Line 4MOTION DSG R699 900

The new Arteon comes standard with a 5 year/90 000km Maintenance Plan, 3 year/120 000km warranty, 12-year anti-corrosion warranty and space saver spare wheel. Service Interval is 15 000km.

By Shawn Greyling