Meet the Volkswagen Arteon Gran Turismo, the sexy successor to the CC. The Arteon was first revealed in concept form two years ago in Geneva as the Sport Coupe Concept GTE. The production version of that concept was shown off in a series of sketches last fall, with VW dropping production-spec teaser images last week to whet the appetite of the public and press. With looks to kill and an available 276-horsepower engine the Arteon could be one of Geneva's surprise stars.
Six turbocharged four-cylinder engines ranging in power from 148 ponies to the aforementioned 276-hp range-topper are available. Three of those are TDIs, and it remains to be seen if the diesel engines will be brought stateside. The three 2.0-liter TDIs make 148 hp, 188 hp and 236 hp. The three TSI power plants are a 1.5-liter rated at 148 horsepower and two 2.0-liter units, one offering 188 horsepower and the other at 276. On the 2.0-liter gas engines Volkswagen's seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DSG) is standard; DSG is optional on the 1.5-liter. Those who opt for the most powerful engine get 4Motion all-wheel drive as standard. With the move to the MQB platform the Arteon should be lighter and more dynamic than the CC.
Fuel economy figures were only given for the 276-hp engine. On paper they're promising, with 25.6 mpg city, 38.6 mpg highway and 32.2 mpg combined. While the available engines have us excited, the real story here is the Arteon's styling. That yellow R-Line trim is a head-turner, but less sporty trims should still look equally stunning. This thing looks like a sedan that thinks it's a sports car. The hood is long and features powerful lines. The front grille is massive and the fenders look as if they've been put on steroids. The rakish roofline may massacre rear head space but it makes the Arteon look less like a VW and more like an Audi, at least an Audi-lite anyways.
The Audi influence extends to the interior. The cabin is not as elegant as Volkswagen's luxury line but does feature an available 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment center and the automaker's version of Audi's Virtual Cockpit, the imaginatively named Digital Cockpit. New available technology includes Adaptive Cruise Control that takes into account speed limits and route info as well as a new adaptive headlight system that uses GPS and road data to account for corners and bends before they arrive. The Arteon is expected to debut in the US as a 2018 model. In Germany, its launch market, pricing will start at €35,000 ($37,000) when it goes on sale in June.
We'll have live shots and more info on the Arteon Gran Turismo when the press days of the 2017 Geneva Motor Show officially kick off tomorrow. For now check out these press shots and let us know what you think of VW's newest model.
