Volkswagen’s Nurburgring test centre has apparently run out of camouflage wrap. Both the Golf R and the forthcoming Arteon R and saloon have been spied running around the Green Hell virtually undisguised, suggesting either that coronavirus has hampered the supply chain or – just as likely – they’re due for imminent arrival. VW has been testing its upcoming flagship, expected to use exactly the same 334hp EA888 2.0-litre as the Golf R, in public since the winter, so it looks on course to reach roads before autumn.
Both saloon and estate versions are due, the latter having been spied last month (see earlier story below), to give VW a premium performance pairing capable of rivalling middling versions of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. All-wheel drive is certainty in R format, although we're hopeful that the firm has played it fast and loose with the hardware tuning; a larger version of the Golf R's handling neutrality would make for a genuine alternative to a 330i.
The Arteon’s more mature positioning will likely mean a broader bandwidth - especially compared with VW’s T-Roc R, a car R boss Jost Capito has admitted to tuning with a youthful feel in mind. But expect a little more zest than you get from stock offering, and a lot more point-to-point pace to go with the model's generally polished vibe. UK buyers already have access to the 272hp Arteon R-Line, so there’s room for additional enhancements as well as a generous level of standard kit. We anticipate standard adaptive dampers, and DSG only - much like the next Golf R.
The biggest question relates to build numbers, given than VW restricted its Arteon R-Line UK supply to 370 cars. There’s a fair chance the R might follow suit, given that demand for hot SUVs - the forthcoming Tiguan R included - far outweighs quick saloons. That being said, British buyers are notoriously keen on all things R-badged, and the trim level is on the cusp of an almighty push. We'll know more in the coming weeks.
Previous story: 06.03.2020
BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar will get a new rival in the fast wagon segment when the Volkswagen Arteon R Shooting Brake debuts later this year. Powered by the new 334hp 2.0-litre engine expected to debut in the new Golf R and sharing the same driveline, the R-grade Arteon is set to follow the hatchback version into an expanded performance lineup.
As with its engine, the R’s all-wheel drive system is reckoned to be an evolution of present Haldex technology, providing a familiar mix of economy and ground-covering ability. Presently, the most potent Arteon on sale is the 272hp R-Line TSI, which in terms of pricing (it starts at £41,115) is a rival to the current class-leader, the BMW 340i. The VW is slightly larger and more spacious than the Bavarian (note the length of the regular Shooting Brake prototype pictured here), but it’s got a comparably plain four-pot that’s 54hp down on the BMW’s more characterful inline six.
Recent VW form suggests the Arteon R will significantly up the car’s brand of glued-down cross country performance. The T-Roc R showed just how good the division’s latest crop of heated-up things can be without majorly sacrificing on ride quality and practicality - so we’ve high hopes for the incoming car. They’re likely to be given fairly generous base specifications to bolster their practical credentials, too, helping to justify their 340i-beating starting prices.
That will probably set the tone for VW’s new arrival to the class, with evidence suggesting the 329hp Arteons will be more focussed on all-round usability than even the next Golf R hatch and estate. That’s arguably a given, but Jost Capito and R division racing driver Benny Leuchter have a habit of going above and beyond when it comes to chassis tuning. We’ll know more in the coming months.
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