Volkswagen is using the mid-life update of its Arteon to launch a new Shooting Brake bodystyle alongside a raft of new driver-assist features, said to be so advanced that they’ll enable the car to control steering, throttle and braking on certain motorways. While VW is yet to officially announce the variant, it’s also expected that this refreshed range will introduce a 334hp R range-topper for both bodystyles, meaning the Arteon line-up will be bigger, more advanced and faster - all the better to rival the 3 Series, C-Class et al.
From what we can see in the sketches, the Arteon’s sleek face and broad shoulders will remain, but the Shooting Brake’s distinctive roofline adds more muscle what’s always been a dramatic rear-end. There's a different front grille design on the estate car, too, suggesting the enhanced look will extend further forward than the B-pillar. It means fans of the first Arteon design will likely remain onboard for the update – although we won’t know for sure until its shown for real later this month.
VW tells us to expect engines with “high levels of efficiency as well as low emissions and powerful torque”, from “innovative, future-oriented engine and emissions technologies”, which is a likely nod to electrification. We’d expect most, if not all, of the Arteon’s pre-update line-up of 2.0-litre petrol and diesels to be superseded by VW’s mild and and plug-in hybrid engines, shared with the Mk8 Golf. It’s likely to be a similar story for the anticipated R range-topper.
Spy photos of test cars at the ‘Ring showed that the R version is due in both bodystyles, with the latest-gen version of VW’s ubiquitous turbocharged 2.0-litre, uprated to 334hp for 2020 and twinned with a dual-clutch auto as standard in the Arteon. We’ve high hopes for the all-wheel drive version given the roll that VW's R division is on at the moment - but expect the car to target a more mature customer than its C segment cousins. Expect a distinct character to follow suit.
As one of its plushest models, the Arteon is also due VW's aforementioned semi-autonomous tech, including a Travel Assist system that will be able to reduce the workload of a driver at speeds of up to 130mph. That trait somewhat illustrates the focus of the Arteon on its home soil, although UK demand has been sufficiently healthy to convince VW to launch the Arteon R-Line in Britain, albeit with limited production. As such, we’re expecting the real thing to arrive later this year...
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