Volkswagen will uncover the facelifted
Arteon on June 24 and the biggest news is the introduction of a second body
style, the Arteon Shooting Brake. Unsurprisingly, the long-roof version of the
mid-size car will be kept away from North America, but it will launch in Europe
alongside the updated liftback, complementing the elegant styling with a big
boot behind the rear seats.
On the outside, the German automaker has
only mildly revised the headlamps and taillights, while simplifying the grille
design. Previous scoops have revealed that it will display new ‘Arteon’
lettering on the tailgate in a new font. Elsewhere, we expect it to launch with
an updated color palette and new wheel options.
In the cabin, the 2021 Arteon will be
given the latest infotainment system and perhaps the usual upholstery and trim
revisions. Drivers will be assisted by new safety gear, including the ‘Travel
Assist’ semi-autonomous driving, which can take over the steering, acceleration
and braking of the car on long journeys, at up to 210 km/h.
The lineup will be topped by the
performance-oriented Arteon R, which is expected with the Golf R’s 2.0-liter
four-pot rated at 328 HP. Initial reports suggested that the
394 HP 3.0-liter VR6 twin-turbo could be a good candidate for
this model, but the smaller power unit seems to be the obvious choice paired to
a DSG transmission and 4Motion all-wheel drive system. The company hasn’t said
anything about the Arteon R for the moment, so expect it to debut probably in a
few months.
