Volkswagen Arteon

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Like a Volkswagen The German automaker is famous for its conservative products and boring, almost traced designs. That's why they had to invent the Arteon, which I have been driving for a week.

I arrived in Germany to visit the Frankfurt Motor Show (see full coverage), have contact with upcoming products for the Argentine market (read notes) and witness the latest results of the LatinNCAP crash tests (see notes).

Courtesy of VW Argentina, they also lent me this car to try a few more days. The Arteon was launched for sale in Europe two years ago and is under study for our market. He is the successor of the VW Passat CC and VW CC (named "dry"). That is, it is a more elegant and sporty reinterpretation of the current Passat B8 (read review).

While Pacheco makes the final decision, Autoblog already tested version 2.0 TSi (280 hp) 4Motion DSG7 Elegance. In Europe it has a price of 49,700 euros. The full review is reproduced below.

OUT

In 2004, Mercedes-Benz presented the first CLS Class, signed by designer Michael Fink. And the Marketing department of the German brand had no better occurrence than to call that model as a “four-door coupe”. We all know that the coupes have two doors, but the idea caught on the public and soon several brands came out to imitate the concept. The 2008 Passat CC was one of the first to join, even before the Audi A5 / A7 Sportback.

The design concept of a vehicle where the roof line draws the same curve until it integrates with the trunk exists in the automotive industry since the 1930s. It is called Fastback and that is the correct definition for this type of model. But the originality of the marketinero name “four-door coupé” gave a young and sporty argument to those who did not want to settle for a boring and conservative sedan.

The Arteon is the third generation of this proposal and, as always, it is based on the platform of the contemporary Passat. In this case, it is the Passat B8 that used the MQB-A Platform. This detail is important. The Passat (previous CC Passat) used the platform of the old Audi A6. This allowed the Passat (and CC derivatives, "dry") to use V6 engines.

In July 2013 I tested the Volkswagen CC “dry” V6 4Motion for Autoblog. I found a car with an explosive mechanical combination (read review). On the other hand, with the current MQB-A Platform (the same one that they use from the VW Golf to the Audi TT, passing through several Skoda and Seat models) this configuration is no longer possible. Only supports four-cylinder engines or less.

If the acronym CC meant “Coupé Comfort” and had been closely associated with the name Passat, with this new generation Volkswagen opted for the name Arteon: it is a derivative of the Latin word “Artem”, which means “art”. "It's a car where the emphasis is on design," VW defined.

Although it uses the same platform, with respect to the conventional Passat (read criticism), the Arteon grew in several dimensions: it has a wheelbase of 2,837 mm (+51 mm than the normal Passat), it measures 4,862 mm long (+87 mm), 1,871 mm wide (+39 mm) and 1,450 mm high (-33 mm). The trails are also a little wider (just five millimeters).

The result of these proportions is a car much more striking, sporty and aggressive than the normal Passat, with a front grill that distinguishes it immediately. Within a brand that is not characterized by risking its designs, the Arteon is one of the most original models of the current global VW range.

Original and very efficient: it has an aerodynamic coefficient of Cx 0.27.

The tested version had the level of Elegance equipment. It comes standard with generous 245 / 35R20 tires. If someone is looking for an even more striking Arteon, the R-Line version has a trunk design with more aggressive features, graphite-painted tires and a black spoiler on the trunk lid.

If VW Argentina finally made the decision to sell the Arteon in our market, it would not have a direct competitor among the generalist brands. Peugeot Argentina was going to launch this year the new and spectacular 508 (read review), which also has Fastback body, but the commercialization was rescheduled at least until next year.

INSIDE

A fundamental difference with the current Passat (and all previous “dry” CC and CC Passat) is that the Arteon does not have four doors. It has five: the tailgate is connected to the cabin and, therefore, is considered a fifth door. The new Peugeot 508 and the Ford Mondeo 5 Doors (exclusive to Europe) have the same solution.

This fifth door allowed to solve two problems: the Fastback line is more marked than ever and, incidentally, there was a huge trunk with a huge loading mouth: it has 563 liters of capacity, which can be expanded up to 1,557 liters, refuting the backups rear

With so much space it is incomprehensible that it has no help wheel. Not even a finite one, for temporary use. It just comes with a puncture repair kit. It is an acceptable solution in Germany, where the roads are perfect, the distances are not very long and the mechanical assistance services arrive quickly. However, if sold to Argentina, it should be rethought. There is plenty of space.

And not just for real help. There is also a comfortable place for five adults to accommodate without problems. Only access to the rear seats requires a bit more contortion than in the Passat. But, once you are located, you will discover that you have much more room for the legs and that the ceiling is not as low as it seems.

What is at least frustrating in this Elegance version is the design of the steering wheel: it is the same already known of several VW models. You have to jump to the R-Line version to have a steering wheel similar to the Golf GTi and sports seats.

Beyond that detail, it is a car with excellent finishing quality and some exclusive touches, such as the analog clock in the center of the instrument panel. It comes standard with digital dashboard, 9.2-inch multimedia touch screen and three-zone climate control. The sunroof is exclusive to the R-Line version.

SECURITY

In Europe, the Arteon comes with a very complete safety equipment: collision risk alert, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot alert, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane maintenance system, adaptive lights and system Automatic parking

All these devices are also found in the Passat that is sold in Europe, although not in the one that arrives in Argentina. Once again, the configurators of the versions for the local market, removed the Autonomous Emergency Braking and other driving aids.

Of course, the Arteon also has six airbags, ABS brakes, stability control, traction control and Isofix anchors.

The Arteon has already undergone EuroNCAP crash tests. It obtained the maximum five-star rating, with 96% in adult protection, 85% in children, 85% in pedestrians and 82% in driving assistance.

MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION

It was explained above. Because of the platform it has, the Arteon will not be able to repeat the explosive formula of 300 horsepower V6 and 4Motion all-wheel drive, as the “dry” CC had. The 2.0 TSi is not bad at all, but it is not a V6 in terms of torque and sound. Leaving that nostalgia behind, it should be clarified that this variant of the classic 2.0 TSi of the VW Group (used by many models of the consortium) is one of the most interesting developments: 280 hp (between 5,500 and 6,500 rpm) and 350 Nm of torque (between 2,000 and 5,400 rpm).

It is combined with the automatic double clutch (seven-speed DSG, with cams at the wheel) and 4Motion all-wheel drive. Under normal conditions, the Arteon works as front-wheel drive and attaches the rear axle in case of loss of adhesion of the front wheels (either by deep acceleration or by sliding surfaces).

This is the most powerful version of the Arteon. In Europe, turbodiesel and turbonafteras variants are also offered, from 150 horsepower. The Arteon R-Line has the same drivers of the Arteon Elegance.

BEHAVIOR

If the current Passat B8 is an example of excellent ride comfort, silent cab and very good dynamic behavior, Arteon multiplies that experience. It is a larger and slightly heavier car (1,700 kilos, largely due to the larger dimensions and double traction), but the extended wheelbase provides a well manorial ride. Although it is not soft or boring, thanks to variable hardness dampers.

The ultra-low profile of the tires is not suffered in Germany, but since in Argentina -with this same footwear- we would have to take good care of the wheels in bumpy areas (and not to mention the “friends of the alien”).

The adaptive chassis system (DCC) allows varying the hardness of the shock absorbers, but also the response of the accelerator, the programming of the gearbox and even the sound of the engine.

No, lie: the engine does not change sound. As it happens in other VW, the Arteon has an artificial sound, which comes out of the speakers and is programmed to accompany the rpm curve of the engine. It seems unnecessary. Luckily, it can be disabled.

Volkswagen declares a maximum speed of 250 km / h and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in 5.6 seconds. I was able to make measurements in Germany and the acceleration is as it is. The maximum speed, however, reached 262 km / h (measured with GPS), in one of those beautiful German Autobahns, with unrestricted areas to accelerate without fear, with the right pedal to the bottom.

It is a car that can be enjoyed every day in the city. However, the steering, the brakes and the whole set-up are designed for intense road use. It is a fantastic car for long trips and at a very (but very) high pace.

Of course, when you travel thoroughly, prepare for consumption above 20 liters per 100 kilometers. Under normal conditions, at 120 km / h en route (in seventh and only 2,000 rpm), consumption is much more moderate: just 8.5 liters per 100 kilometers. The fuel tank has 66 liters.

CONCLUSION

This is not a conclusion. It is an open letter from Autoblog.

Dear Mr. New Products Configurator of Volkswagen Argentina: I know that the local subsidiary is analyzing the possibility of importing Arteon to our market. Thank you very much to your Communication team, for allowing me to try it for a week and more than a thousand kilometers on roads in Europe, even before a final decision is made.

I am aware that this decision will not only be taken by you, but that the final word will depend on the Commercial area and - fundamentally - the Finance sector (in today's Argentina, I imagine that in that office you will never get bored).

However, in the event that everyone agrees to give the “green light” to the Arteon, I would appreciate you taking into account the following Autoblog suggestions when configuring it for our country.

The Passat failed in its attempt to match sales to Mondeo. The competition can never be fair when the German Volkswagen pays 35% of customs taxes, while Ford pays 0%, coming from Mexico.

Arteon is also manufactured in Germany, but - unlike Passat - it plays in its own league. Clearly surpasses the Mondeo in size, design, manufacturing quality and even power. It is not, from now, the great V6 of the old VW CC "dry", but this 2.0 TSi 280 horsepower is enough to break all the speed limits in any country that does not have Autobahns.

With all these advantages, it would be more tolerable and understandable for the Arteon to have a clearly higher price than the Mondeo.

However, if the decision depended on us, we would never bring the Arteon to Argentina with the Elegance equipment of the unit we tested. We would bet directly on the R-Line. It has an even more sporty and original design, not forgetting an interior with a steering wheel that does not look like a copy of other po[CENSORED]r VWs.

Let's negotiate this point: I would accept that they configure it with the huge 20-inch wheels, but only in exchange for sacrificing a little space in that huge trunk, to offer a helper wheel of the same size as the holders. I would also ask you to offer the same level of safety equipment as in Europe. Nothing to lose ADAS along the way.

Finally, the price. The Arteon is having very good sales in Europe because it is up to 20% cheaper than an Audi A5 Sportback. In Argentina, that model costs 62 thousand dollars. If you do not achieve a similar equation, do not even try it: the Arteon is very original and elegant, but do not forget that you still have a "VW" in the tube.