Volkswagen Areton revealed ahead of September release

The Volkswagen Arteon has been revealed ahead of its release into Australia in September at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. Based on the current Passat, the Arteon adds a dose of style and luxury to the mix, with a swoopy roofline and a low-slung front end to create a sportier and more emotional alternative to a Passat. Unlike the both the Passat and the CC that it replaces but like its MQB platform stablemate Skoda Superb, the Arteon is actually a five-door liftback. The Arteon will be Volkswagen’s most premium passenger car model.

The Areton shows off the latest evolution of Volkswagen design, where the LED headlights – standard on all Arteon models – flow horizontally into the grille, with a large Volkswagen badge sitting at the centre. The rear of the Arteon is similarly sleek, with a subtle lip spoiler and bolder LED lighting taking centre stage. The metallic yellow-coloured Areton shown is the sportier R-Line variant, and adds a sportier three-spoke steering wheel, as well as huge 20-inch alloy wheels and sportier, lower bumpers. This is proud Volkswagen design as we’ve never seen it before.

The Arteon is powered by the same range of drivetrains as the Passat, with petrol engines ranging from the new 110kW 1.5TSI, through to the 132kW 2.0TSI and up to the 206kW 2.0TSI used in the Passat 206TSI R-Line. If diesels are your preference, available are the usual 2.0TDI in 110kW, 140kW and bi-turbo 176kW variants. Given the Arteon’s positioning above the regular Passat range, we’d bet on just the highest-powered variants reaching Australia, both powered by Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system and a 7-speed DSG.

The interior of the Arteon is, as you’d expect, largely similar to the Passat. The dashboard layout is almost identical with the exception of the more premium available equipment. The Arteon features the new 9.2-inch ‘Discover Pro’ capacitive touchscreen with gesture control, as well as heated and cooled massaging front seats, an electric tailgate and adaptive cruise control that uses data from the navigation system to better predict traffic patterns. Volkswagen’s 12.3-inch Active Driver display digital instrument cluster also features in its latest form.

At 4,827mm long, 1,871mm wide, 1,427mm tall and with a 2,841mm long wheelbase, the Arteon is 95mm longer, 39mm wider, 29mm shorter in height and has a 50mm longer wheelbase compared to the Passat sedan.

No longer does a low roofline have to sacrifice practicality, the Arteon is almost as practical as the normal Passat due to its liftback design. The boot features 563 litres of space – a normal Passat sedan slightly larger at 586 litres. With the rear seats folded, the Arteon’s boot is rated at 1,557 litres, certainly more practical than the CC it replaces, which had 532 litres.

The Volkswagen Arteon will go on sale in Australia in September 2017, with full pricing and specifications due to be announced in due course. Chasing Cars will bring you a review of the Arteon at its launch in Australia.