Volkswagen Replaces CC with Arteon: Comments

[William Maley]

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The Volkswagen CC held a distinction that very few models in their lineup could (aside from not being involved in the diesel emission mess); it was a model that actually had some style. The CC's successor, the Arteon looks to be taking this a step further.

To be shown later this week at the Geneva Motor Show, the Arteon is mostly a carbon copy of the Sport Coupe Concept GTE shown two years ago. The front end gets a massive grille that extends into the LED headlights. Fenders bulge out and the swoopy roofline flows gently into a fastback. For the interior, Volkswagen is giving the Arteon some serious luxury credentials with available Alcantara/”Vienna” leather seats, Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit, and a 9.2-inch infotainment display with gesture controls.

Europe will have the choice of six turbocharged engines; three gas and three diesels.

• 1.5L TSI Evo: 148 horsepower
• 2.0L TSI: 188 horsepower
• 2.0L TSI:  276 horsepower
• 2.0L TDI: 148 horsepower
• 2.0L TDI: 188 horsepower
• 2.0L TDI: 236 horsepower

A six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG will be on offer, as will Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive.

Volkswagen says the Arteon will go on sale in Germany in June. North America has to wait till next year when the Arteon arrives as a 2019 model.

Source: Volkswagen
Press Release is on Page 2

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VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON MAKES WORLD DEBUT AT THE GENEVA AUTO SHOW
Mar 6, 2017

• Premium four-door coupe is positioned above the Passat mid-size sedan
• Five-seat Arteon combines the design elements of a sports car with the elegance and space of a fastback
• Standard LED headlamps merge with the radiator grille and bonnet to form a completely new front end
• Very long wheelbase in relationship to the overall length offers excellent space
• Six turbocharged engines offer power outputs from 148 to 276 horsepower
• Top engines come with a DSG® dual-clutch automatic gearbox and 4Motion® all-wheel drive as standard
• Infotainment options include available Volkswagen Digital Cockpit and 9.2-inch Discover Pro system

Herndon, VA – Volkswagen is adding the avant-garde Arteon Gran Turismo to its lineup and will reveal the vehicle to a global audience for the first time at the Geneva International Motor Show (9 to 19 March). Volkswagen Head Designer Klaus Bischoff says: "The Arteon combines the design elements of a classic sports car with the elegance and space of a fastback. It’s an avant-garde business-class Gran Turismo that speaks to the heart and head alike."

Tobias Sühlmann, responsible for the Arteon's exterior design, further explains: “The athletic lines of the Arteon embody a highly functional overall concept. Form and function find common ground here in a progressive way. Thanks to its long wheelbase, stretched roofline, coupe-style fastback design and large rear hatch, this Gran Turismo provides more space and flexibility than conventional sedans."

The new Arteon was designed on the Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB). The architecture allows for a long, 111.9- inch wheelbase and for short overhangs on the 191.4-inch long body. With a width of 73.7 inches and a height of 56.2 inches, the Arteon delivers truly dynamic proportions and a visual starting point for the Volkswagen designers.

One of the most important design elements of the Arteon is the completely new front section. Stand-out features include a hood that extends a long way forward and over both fenders and a radiator grille that encompasses the vehicle's full width. The standard LED headlights and Daytime Running Lights combine with the chrome-plated crossbars of the radiator grille and hood. The powerful shoulder section at the rear, the muscular fenders, the waistline, and the flared wheelarches are also reminiscent of a sports car.

Just 24 months ago, Volkswagen unveiled the Sport Coupé Concept GTE, which was one of the stars of the Geneva Auto Show in 2015. Klaus Bischoff said then that: "The Sport Coupé Concept GTE is another milestone of expressive design. Unmistakably reinvented, from the first to the last stroke. A stylistic compass. In this concept car, Volkswagen is not only presenting the new design of a new model, but also initial glimpses of a new era in design."

Now that Volkswagen is showing the production version, Klaus Bischoff adds: "The fact that the Arteon has gone into production with only minimal design changes from the show car demonstrates Volkswagen's appetite for innovation. Exactly like the concept car, the Arteon generates that 'I want it' feeling. As forecast in 2015, this car does indeed mark the start of a new design era."

The Arteon takes its place in the Volkswagen model range above the Passat. The new Volkswagen is being produced at the Emden plant and will go on sale in mid June in Germany.

The Arteon reinterprets the Gran Turismo concept with its combination of avant-garde design, sportiness, great flexibility and generous space. There is excellent legroom in the back and generous luggage space of 19.9 to 55.0 cubic feet. On the technical front, the new Volkswagen impresses with six highly efficient engines with power outputs that range from 148 to 276 horsepower, front-wheel and 4Motion® all-wheel drive, plus digitalized displays and controls. Further features include the Active Info Display (Volkswagen Digital Cockpit in the U.S.), a headup display and the new Discover Pro infotainment system with a 9.2-inch glass screen and gesture control.

The Arteon's innovative driver assistance systems match its avant-garde looks. Three of the new technologies stand out here. First, the latest generation Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) now takes into account data such as speed limits and/or route information and automatically adjusts the speed accordingly. Thanks to the navigation system's GPS and road data, the new dynamic cornering light system with predictive beam control recognizes when a bend is approaching and is already lighting it before the driver actively turns into it. Further added safety is provided by the second generation of Emergency Assist: if the driver becomes incapacitated by illness, the system not only (within its system limits) slows the car down, but now also steers it into the nearside lane, traffic behind permitting.

Despite the high-end looks and equipment, the Arteon is available at an attractive price. In parallel with the high-quality base version, the car will be available in two exclusive equipment lines: the Elegance and R-Line®. The Arteon Elegance is focused heavily on luxury and design. The Arteon R-Line, meanwhile, puts sportiness at its heart. It is possible for the vehicle to be extensively personalized.

Every Arteon model has the following standard features:

Exterior

• Chrome strips on side windows
• LED taillights
• LED headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lights
• Aluminum-alloy wheels
• Keyless Go access

Interior

• Stainless steel door kickplates, front and rear
• Composition Media infotainment system, including eight loudspeakers, AUX-IN and USB
• Electronically controlled air conditioning system
• Leather multifunction steering wheel (with paddle shifters on DSG models)
• Six-way power adjustable front seats

Driver assistance and handling systems

• Driver Alert System
• Progressive steering system

The Arteon Elegance includes the following custom details:

Exterior

• Chrome door mirror caps
• LED taillights with dynamic indicator light function
• 18-inch 'Muscat' aluminum-alloy wheels
• Continuous chrome trim strip on lower bodywork
• Heated windshield washer jets

Interior

• Contrast stitching on seat covers and floormats
• Aluminum-look pedal covers
• Alcantara/ “Vienna” leather seating surfaces
• Heatable front seats

The Arteon R-Line includes the following custom details:

Exterior

• High gloss black finish of the C-signature in the front air intakes
• Leather multifunction R-Line design sport steering wheel
• 18-inch 'Sebring' aluminum-alloy wheels
• Heated windshield washer jets
• Special R-Line bumpers
• Continuous chrome trim strip on lower bodywork
• Chrome-plated exhaust tips

Interior

• 'Titan Black' headliner
• Stainless steel door kickplates front and rear (with R-Line logo on front plates}
• Aluminum-look pedal covers
• Alcantara/ “Vienna” leather ('Vienna') seating surfaces with R-Line logo
• Special R-Line steering wheel
• Heatable front seats

Powertrain
The new Arteon is launching with a range of six turbocharged direct-injection engines. All are four-cylinder units: the entry-level petrol (TSI) and diesel (TDI®) engines each develop 148 horsepower. The most powerful TSI gasoline engine delivers 276 hp, while the most powerful TDI produces 236 hp.

All the engines, except the 148-hp TSI in Germany, can be combined with a DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. For the TSI, the DSG is standard for the 188-hp engine and above. In the case of the TDI, it is fitted as standard with the 236-hp version. The most powerful TSI and TDI models also have 4Motion all-wheel drive as standard, while this is available as an option for the 188-hp TDI. All other models have front-wheel drive.

NEDC fuel consumption for the 276-hp gasoline engine is: 25.6 mpg on the urban cycle, 38.6 mpg on the extraurban cycle, and a combined rating of 32.2 mpg.

The Arteon's engines in summary:

Gasoline	Output	Gearbox / Drive system
1.5 TSI Evo	110 kW / 148 hp	6-speed / optional 7-speed DSG (DSG not in Germany)
2.0 TSI	140 kW / 188 hp	7-speed DSG
2.0 TSI	206 kW / 276 hp	7-speed DSG plus 4Motion
Diesel	Output	Gearbox / Drive system
2.0 TDI	110 kW / 148 hp	6-speed / optional 7-speed DSG
2.0 TDI	140 kW / 188 hp	6-speed / optional 7-speed DSG / optional 4Motion
2.0 TDI	176 kW / 236 hp	7-speed DSG plus 4Motion

 

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[David]

We'll Carbon Copy is a complement. Rebadge BMW with a VW Grill. Nice, but nothing original.

Dash, just another BLAH uninspiring dash.

I will grant that this is the best looking VW auto they have done and the only thing that actually has some very nice style even for a clone of a BMW.

[balthazar]

CC is blandish but nice. This is far too busy, tho some may see it as 'taking a chance'. :rolleyes: 

[Frisky Dingo]

4 hours ago, dfelt said:

We'll Carbon Copy is a complement. Rebadge BMW with a VW Grill. Nice, but nothing original.

Dash, just another BLAH uninspiring dash.

I will grant that this is the best looking VW auto they have done and the only thing that actually has some very nice style even for a clone of a BMW.

Car looks nothing like a BMW.

 

This made it to production guise with very little alteration from the concept model. That's great to see. I look forward to seeing what powertrains the US will be offered.

[regfootball]

Is the dash the exact same in the current euro Passat? How can you tell, all VW dashes look so similar

thats a familiar looking greenhouse window line.....

the Atlas and now this. vW styling sure is curious these days. 

One thing coming out of Europe that is interesting is glass roof panel roof. Sedans all feel so low and claustrophobic. This may be something that makes them feel more spacious.  

The front fender to door reminds me of Taurus. The flared fenders remind me of last gen maxima. Overall it's like a Chinese version of a vW. 

[Stew]

14 hours ago, Frisky Dingo said:

Car looks nothing like a BMW.

 

This made it to production guise with very little alteration from the concept model. That's great to see. I look forward to seeing what powertrains the US will be offered.

I agree, i don't really see any BMW here, maybe some A7 and A5 Sportback, but those are part of the family.  I am excited that is on the MQB architecture and hope we get the 2.0 276 HP TSi with 4motion and maybe a manual?  I know, the last part is the least likely......

[frogger]

Will be interesting to see how this is priced compared to an A4.

 

[David]

We'll I agree to disagree, as when I saw this VW, I clearly saw this in my mind.

VW

BMW

[Stew]

6 minutes ago, dfelt said:

We'll I agree to disagree, as when I saw this VW, I clearly saw this in my mind.

VW

BMW

outside of a somewhat similar color, I don't see it.  Everything from he body lines to overall design is completely different.  Heck, the BMW sheetmetal turns in below the upper body-line while the VW does the complete opposite. 

[David]

3 minutes ago, Stew said:

outside of a somewhat similar color, I don't see it.  Everything from he body lines to overall design is completely different.  Heck, the BMW sheetmetal turns in below the upper body-line while the VW does the complete opposite. 

From the lower corner front nose grill openings, to the coupe design, shoulders over the wheels, I see enough similarities between the two. To each their own.

[Frisky Dingo]

You have some serious eyesight issues if you think those cars like anything alike outside of color. They almost couldn't be anymore different.

[ccap41]

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

We'll I agree to disagree, as when I saw this VW, I clearly saw this in my mind.

VW

BMW

I think you're just saying that because of the color because those are two very different front ends. Nothing other than the number of openings on the bottom of the fascia are even remotely similar.

[ccap41]

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

to the coupe design

How much different can a coupe be shaped?

 

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

shoulders over the wheels

The BMW doesn't have any shoulders over the wheels whereas the VW does.

Like @Stew said, the BMW's curls in itself(ingress) on the side where the VW curls out and over the top.

[David]

3 hours ago, dfelt said:

We'll I agree to disagree, as when I saw this VW, I clearly saw this in my mind.

VW

BMW

Great now MB latest auto pulls that same huge holes on the lower corners of the front end, blah coupe look. In fact the VW and MB look more alike than the BMW now, but all three while nice looking auto's also show a huge LACK of Individual Style!

[smk4565]

The new VW looks better than the CC I think, but this 4 door coupe trend seems way over.  The Mercedes concept doesn't look good it looks like a Kia, and they invented the 4 door coupe in the first place.  The original CLS was ground breaking, the mojo is missing from the latest one.

VW is just desperate for sales on anything, they need crossovers in a bad way and they probably see this 4 door coupe as their halo product.  

[balthazar]

Can't miss mojo you never had.

[Stew]

11 hours ago, smk4565 said:

The new VW looks better than the CC I think, but this 4 door coupe trend seems way over.  The Mercedes concept doesn't look good it looks like a Kia, and they invented the 4 door coupe in the first place.  The original CLS was ground breaking, the mojo is missing from the latest one.

VW is just desperate for sales on anything, they need crossovers in a bad way and they probably see this 4 door coupe as their halo product.  

You realize VW was the number 1 seller in the world last year, right?  Also, I am pretty sure this is actually a 5 door hatch instead of a 4 door coupe. 

[smk4565]

Desperate for American market sales I mean.