After a long streak of spy photos and teasers, Volkswagen finally came out with the facelifted Arteon range, which now includes an estate/wagon version, a hybrid and a power-boosted Arteon R AWD.
The base spec remains more or less the same, only getting new bumpers, brake lights and badge font. The R-Line version boasts new exhaust tips and a couple of extra LED DRLs. Admittedly, you could as well purchase the DRLs separately from the R-Line package.
The Arteon Shooting Brake proved hardly much more practical than its liftback counterpart. With the rear seats up, its trunk space measures 565 liters (19.95 cubic feet), which is nearly identical to the 563 liters (19.88 cu. ft.) offered by the liftback. Fold down the seats, and you get 1,632 liters (57.63 cu. ft.), which is once again not a great improvement over the liftback’s 1,557 liters (54.98 cu. ft.).
The interior changes much more profoundly with the update. The old Arteon cabin was little different from that of the Passat, while the new one boasts an optimized layout, higher-quality finishing materials, ambient lighting available in 30 colors, and Android Auto / Apple CarPlay wireless support. Customers may opt for a 700W set of Harman/Kardon speakers.
In Europe, the range will ship with two-liter turbocharged gasoline engines rated between 190 and 280 hp (142 – 209 kW), as well as two-liter diesels good for 150 – 200 hp (112 – 150 kW). The cheaper diesel comes paired with six-speed manual transmission, while all others use seven-speed DSG. All-wheel drive is a paid option.
The Arteon eHybrid packs the same powertrain as the Passat GTE, namely a 1.4-liter gasoline engine (156 hp, 116 kW) working in tandem with an electric motor 115 hp (86 kW) and a six-speed semi-auto transmission. The peak cumulative output reaches 218 hp (163 kW), and the drive always stays on the front axle. The top speed is clamped at 140 km/h (87 mph), and WLTP-rated electric range amounts to 53 km (33 miles).
The Arteon R AWD retains its EA288 2.0 TFSI mill, but gains a boost to 320 hp (239 kW) and 420 Nm (310 lb-ft) of torque. Its R-Performance Torque Vectoring system distributes the torque between the rear wheels. Weight and acceleration data remain pending.
The R series stands out against the normal Arteon thanks to a body kit, a rear spoiler, quad tailpipes, different wheels, and vivid blue brake calipers. Crack open the door to be greeted by sports seats, premium finishing materials, carbon-fiber inserts, and a paddle shifter.
Prices remain to be announced. Sales in Europe start this fall.