Volkswagen Arteon makes debut at Geneva 2017, replacing CC

By Matt de Prez

7 March 2017

Volkswagen is replacing its sleek Passat coupe, the CC, with the all-new Arteon, first seen at the 2017 Geneva motor show.

Set to take on the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe and the Audi A5 Sportback, the Arteon offers company car drivers a choice of six turbocharged powertrains and optional four-wheel-drive.

Its front section is radical in comparison to current Volkswagen models with bonnet that extends partially over both wings, and a much wider grille.

The Arteon promises great flexibility and generous space. Its boot can accommodate 563 litres, or up to 1,557 litres with the seats folded.

All of the engines have four cylinders and turbochargers. The entry level petrol (TSI) and diesel (TDI) engines offer either 150 PS or 190 PS. The most powerful TSI delivers 280 PS, while the most powerful TDI produces 240 PS. The base petrol engine is an all-new 1.5 TSI Evo, which features Active Cylinder Management.

The Arteon's driver assistance and convenience systems include Adaptive Cruise Control which now takes into account data such as speed limits and route information and automatically adjusts driving speed accordingly. Emergency Assist offers more safety: if the driver becomes incapacitated for health reasons, the system not only slows the car down within system limits, but now also steers it into the slow lane, traffic behind permitting.

Dynamic cornering lights with predictive beam control use the navigation system's GPS and road data to anticipate when a bend is approaching and illuminate it before the driver actively turns into the bend.

Infotainment will be taken care of by a new Discover Pro 9.2-inch glass touchscreen display. The driver will also benefit from fully digital instruments and a head-up display.

Three trim levels will be available when the car goes on sale later this year. Along with the base version will be Elegance and R-Line.

There will also be a range of options including a panoramic tilt/slide sunroof, three-zone automatic air conditioning, massage seats, heated steering wheel and two-tone nappa leather interior.