Volkswagen details incoming Arteon flagship

VOLKSWAGEN Australia has revealed specification for its single-variant flagship Arteon liftback sedan, with the German brand aiming to provide a high level of standard equipment to take the fight to more expensive European rivals ahead of its local arrival in October.

As its flagship model, the Arteon gains a number of features that are firsts for Volkswagen, including a head-up display, the Proactive Occupant Protection System which senses a crash before it happens and closes windows and tenses the seatbelts, and the Emergency Assist 2 system.

Emergency Assist 2 kicks in when the driver is using adaptive cruise control and lane assist. If the driver does not place their hands on the steering wheel after the car asks them to, Emergency Assist emits an intermittent gong, while using the brakes and steering to give the driver a jolt.

It can then activate the vehicle’s hazard lights, and uses the side assist feature to indicate and change lanes, eventually moving to the far left or emergency lane and bringing the vehicle to a stop.

Other features include area view, adaptive LED headlights, dynamic indicators, frameless side windows, heated rear outer seats, 19-inch Montevideo alloy wheels and unique R-Line seats.

This is in addition to standard equipment such as active info display, power folding door mirrors, 9.2-inch infotainment system with gesture control, app-connect, adaptive chassis control, driving profile selection, tinted rear windows, and a suite of safety technologies including adaptive cruise control, front assist with city emergency braking, side assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist and parking assist.

In an effort to keep as many features as possible as standard, Volkswagen has kept the Arteon’s options list small, limiting it to a panoramic glass sunroof, Dynaudio premium sound system with 20-inch Rosario alloy wheels and metallic or pearl effect paint.

Pure White is the Arteon’s standard colour, with metallic hues including Pyrit Silver, Manganese Grey, Tumeric Yellow, Chilli Red and Atlantic Blue. Deep Black is the sole pearl effect choice.

Volkswagen Australia general manager of marketing and product Ben Wilks said there was more to the Arteon than generous specification.

“A halo car should include the highest level of standard specification and this is just one aspect in which our new gran turismo sets benchmarks,” he said.

“Democratising German technology is the key to fulfilling our target of being the Premium for the People brand. Moreover, unlike some SUVs and comparable cars from German prestige brands, the Arteon is made in Europe.” Stylistically, the Arteon is characterised by its large bonnet, integrated grille and headlights, swooping profile and longer wheelbase than its mechanically-related Passat sibling.

Luggage space is rated at 563 litres – down on the Passat’s 586L, while there is more legroom and headroom than the Passat.

As previously reported, the 206TSI Arteon will use the 206kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine shared with the likes of the Passat and Skoda Superb, with power being sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission, allowing a 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.6 seconds.