Issue 558

Arteon
Arteon
R-Line trim
LED
Arteon
Arteon
MQB
50 2837
Arteon
563
1557 A5
Sportback 4 Gran Coupe
480
Arteon
class, the Arteon is Volkswagen taking the fight
to high-performance coupes from the likes of
BMW and Jaguar, and borrows more than a bit
from VW owned Audi.
The first thing that strikes me about the
Arteon is its sleek silhouette. The fastback
design gives it a sweeping look that is oddly
evocative when compared to the more
conservative design language I see on most
other Volkswagen cars.
At the front, there is an aggressive grinning
chrome-lined fascia that flows into the running
lights, flanked by two large, bold air intakes
(in R-Line trim element) that add to the car’s
dynamic look, with frameless side windows and
striking LED tail lights featuring an optional
moving turn signal.
Seldom has any test car I have driven
drawn this many stares and curious public
inquiries.
Inside, the Arteon continues to impress.
Built on the MQB platform, the wheelbase is
50mm longer (2,837mm) than the Passat. This
translates to additional space inside, especially
at the rear where the four passengers will have
ample space to stretch their legs.
Volkswagen also wants the All-New Arteon
to excel when it comes to daily usability, so now
easily accessible via a lift-back lid there is a
sizeable 563-litres of boot space, expandable
to 1,557-litres with rear seats folded down. In
comparison, similarly fastback models like the
Audi A5 Sportback and the BMW 4 Series Gran
Coupe both have 480-litres of boot space.
The Arteon also features the Active Info
Display, where you get the digital cockpit,
as in Audi cars, standard. This puts essential
information on a customisable fully digital
dashboard, allowing easy access to anything
49
ISSUE 558
30.3.2018