Midsize cars have lost massive ground to
crossovers and SUVs over the last few years, but as long as there is still
demand, companies will continue making them. Volkswagen will soon have a new
proposal for this segment in Europe, the Arteon Shooting Brake. The long-roof
version of the regular liftback was spied testing on the roads of German
recently, retaining camouflage on the taillights and the fake window trim that
fails at masking the elegant sloping roofline.
The entire front end of the car will echo
the 2021 Arteon, which is about to welcome its first mid-cycle refresh. The
changes have been kept to a minimum, with the German automaker applying the “if
it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” saying. The air intakes in the bumper have been
tweaked, the grille has less chrome now and the headlamps appear to be slightly
smaller. The refreshed ‘Arteon’ lettering in a new font is missing from the
scooped prototype’s tailgate, though.
Don’t expect any major upgrades inside, as
they will probably be limited to the new infotainment system software and
upholstery, but do look for the hottest model of them all, the Arteon R, to
join the family. It will boast a sporty body kit, quad exhaust pipes, and
drilled brake discs, among other goodies.
Power is likely to come from the 328 HP 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine shared with the
new Golf R, and not the rumored 394 HP 3.0-liter VR6. The
Arteon R will be an all-wheel drive machine with a dual-clutch semi-automatic
transmission. The facelifted Arteon and first-ever
Arteon Shooting Brake will be unveiled on June 24, with the hot R variants
likely a few months away.
