The Volkswagen Arteon is due for a mid-life refresh, and the German brand has confirmed some new details this week ahead of the model’s reveal at the end of the month, including the debut of a ‘Shooting Brake’ wagon variant.
While Volkswagen Australia is unable to confirm the specifics of the local range, a spokesperson for the brand’s local arm confirmed the Arteon will be “reintroduced in early 2021”.
The flagship liftback had silently been removed from the range due to production constraints, however VW Australia is “interested in all new versions” of the Arteon – likely including the Shooting Brake and rumoured Arteon R.
Design sketches of both body styles were published to Volkswagen’s global newsroom, showing a blue Arteon Shooting Brake wearing the brand’s new ‘R’ logo, as well as a red liftback.
From these images we can see the front bumper will get new intake designs, and the LED daytime running light signature won’t just join with the grille slats anymore – it will link each headlight through the grille like what’s available on the Mk8 Golf.
Only these exterior sketches are available for the time being, but Volkswagen says the Arteon “will be given a completely new cockpit environment to match the exclusive charisma of these models”, including the new MIB3 infotainment interface with wireless smartphone mirroring.
“From a technological perspective, the drive range has been re-aligned, too,” the company says, hinting at new electrified engine options in line with the Volkswagen Group’s push to sell 1 million electrified models globally by 2025.
“All engines feature high levels of efficiency as well as low emissions and powerful torque. This maximum efficiency is achieved by innovative, future-oriented engine and emissions technologies,” Volkswagen adds.
Expect several powertrains to be drawn from the Mk8 Golf range, including the GTE’s 180kW/400Nm 1.4-litre plug-in hybrid system and ‘eTSI’ 48V mild-hybrid versions of lower-spec engines.
It’s also expected a new Arteon R flagship will headline the range (likely previewed by the R-badged Shooting Brake here) which is believed to be powered by a high-output 2.0-litre turbo to be shared with the new Golf R.
Outputs for the performance model are anticipated to be the 228kW and 400Nm tune of the ‘EA888’ four-cylinder petrol destined for the Golf R and Audi S3, which is a small bump from the Australian market’s current 213kW/380Nm ‘hot climate’ tune and ever so slightly higher than the 220kW currently available in Europe due to revised mechanicals as a result of WLTP regulations.
Beyond the new engine and infotainment tech, the updated Arteon will offer Volkswagen’s latest assistance systems, including ‘Travel Assist‘ which combines adaptive cruise and adaptive lane guidance functions to accelerate, brake and provide steering assistance on the highway at speeds up to 210km/h.
Expect other bits like the availability of Matrix LED headlights, front and rear cross traffic assist (as per the Touareg and Golf).
Further details regarding the facelifted Volkswagen Arteon will be revealed closer to its June 24 reveal. Stay tuned to CarExpert for our coverage.
