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Volkswagen dealers have opened order books for the all-new Arteon flagship model.
The large five-door fastback will arrive in showrooms in September at prices starting from £34,305.
It will sit above the Passat as the Volkswagen range leader and will target the Audi A5, BMW 4 Series and Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport.
Volkswagen claims best-in-class 1,016mm legroom for the Arteon, thanks to a wheelbase of 2,837mm. The car is 4,862mm long, 1,871mm wide and 1,450mm high, with luggage space of 563 litres that can expand to 1,557 litres by folding down the rear seats.
The car is built on the modular MQB platform, which already underpins a number of VW Group models including the Golf hatchback. According to Volkswagen the new architecture increases rigidity by 10% over a comparable saloon, despite the large rear hatch.
Initial Arteon sales will be with either a 2-litre TSI petrol engine with 280PS, or 2-litre TDI diesels offering either 150 or 240PS. However the engine line-up will quickly expand – set to join the range are a 1.5-litre 150PS petrol unit with cylinder deactivation technology and badged Evo, and a second 2-litre TSI petrol with 190PS.
Standard transmission will be the seven-speed DSG auto unit though the 1.5 TSI and 150hp diesel will also have the option of a six-cylinder manual. The most powerful petrol and diesel engines will be specified as standard with 4Motion all-wheel-drive.
Standard safety features include adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, front, speed and traffic jam assistance, a lane keeping control and a driver fatigue alert.
Two trim levels will be offered, Elegance considered a luxury grade and R-Line more sporting. Standard equipment will include an eight-inch touchscreen controlling the navigation, an eight-speaker sound system, Bluetooth and smartphone compatibility.
Digital instruments, alloy wheels of a minimum 18-inch diameter, LED self-levelling headlights; LED tinted rear light clusters, Nappa leather upholstery and a connected service are also standard on the Arteon.
Volkwagen expects the Arteon to appeal particularly to business buyers.
“With a selection of engines available to order now – and more engine options on the way – we are looking forward to seeing the Arteon make inroads into the important fleet sector in due course,” says VW Group head of marketing Geraldine Ingham.
| Volkswagen Arteon model range and prices | ||||||
| Model | Engine | Gearbox | Doors | Power | CO₂ (g/km) | OTR RRP |
| Elegance | 1.5 TSI ACT | 6-Sp Man | 5 | 150 PS | TBC | TBC |
| Elegance | 1.5 TSI ACT | 7-Sp DSG | 5 | 150 PS | TBC | TBC |
| Elegance | 2.0 TSI | 7-Sp DSG | 5 | 190 PS | TBC | TBC |
| Elegance | 2.0 TSI 4MOTION | 7-Sp DSG | 5 | 280 PS | 164 | £38,755.00 |
| Elegance | 2.0 TDI | 6-Sp Man | 5 | 150 PS | TBC | TBC |
| Elegance | 2.0 TDI | 7-Sp DSG | 5 | 150 PS | 116 | £34,305.00 |
| Elegance | 2.0 TDI 4MOTION | 7-Sp DSG | 5 | 240 PS | 152 | £39,170.00 |
| R-Line | 1.5 TSI ACT | 6-Sp Man | 5 | 150 PS | TBC | TBC |
| R-Line | 1.5 TSI ACT | 7-Sp DSG | 5 | 150 PS | TBC | TBC |
| R-Line | 2.0 TSI | 7-Sp DSG | 5 | 190 PS | TBC | TBC |
| R-Line | 2.0 TSI 4MOTION | 7-Sp DSG | 5 | 280 PS | 164 | £39,540.00 |
| R-Line | 2.0 TDI | 6-Sp Man | 5 | 150 PS | TBC | TBC |
| R-Line | 2.0 TDI | 7-Sp DSG | 5 | 150 PS | 116 | £35,090.00 |
| R-Line | 2.0 TDI 4MOTION | 7-Sp DSG | 5 | 240 PS | 152 | £39,955.00 |
