Car that has style, technology and comfort – Volkswagen Arteon
The 2019 Volkswagen Arteon is a sporting Gran Turismo based on VW MQB architecture with upscale interior and range of new technologies. The Arteon combines modern style, performance and technology in a sleek elegant manner not seen very often. It is available in SE, SEL, and SEL, premium trim levels and comes with standard driver-assistance systems and a range of upscale convenience features. The SEL trim adds Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, Nappa leather seating surfaces, and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go. The top-of-the-line SEL brings more luxury with ventilated front seats, a massaging driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel, and a suite of driver-assistance systems including Park Assist and Overhead View Camera. R-Line® trims add either 19 or 20 inch wheels and paddle shifters, along with sporty design elements. When VW presented the Arteon concept car at the Geneva International Motor Show. The message was clear: this Gran Turismo introduced a new era of Volkswagen design. The concept moved over to production nearly unchanged, combining the traditional design of sports car with the elegance of a fastback.
The front-end of Arteon is aggressive, low and wide that sets it apart from the sedans. Following classic sports cars, the hood contours extend into the grille that emphasizes the width of the Arteon in chrome crossbars framed by LED lighting. The elegant side profile is coupe-like, with a steep sloping rear roofline. A bold line goes from the grille and runs through the side into the rear of the vehicle. The tail end again follows classic sports cars with its high, broad shoulders, featured with LED taillights. The striking design is possible thanks to the flexible MQB architecture, it also gives the Arteon a completely different look than its CC predecessor. The wheelbase on the Arteon is longer than the CC and is combined with shorter overhangs to give more dynamic proportions. Arteon thanks to a sophisticated aerodynamic package, the 2019 Arteon has an impressive 0.30 coefficient of drag. All Arteon models have LED headlights, Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), and taillights as standard. SEL models upgrade to LED headlights with the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), which adjusts the headlight under acceleration, deceleration or cornering, SEL Premium models add lights to the side-mirrors that illuminate when you unlock the doors.
A panoramic power-tilt-and-slide sunroof is standard equipment on SEL and SEL Premium models. Top-of-the-line SEL Premium models also feature a standard power trunk with Easy Open and Close function, KESSY® keyless access is standard on all Arteon models. Arteon SE and SEL models are shod with 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, while SEL Premium models ride on 19-inch wheels. R-Line trims offer either 19- or 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, in addition to a number of design elements to enhance the four-door coupe’s sportiness. Exterior styling details include R-Line badging, a unique front bumper that incorporates stylish air intakes in a gloss-black finish, R-Line air inlets, and a gloss-black rear spoiler. The exterior design of the Arteon translates into a spacious interior for everyday usability. The long wheelbase gives Arteon plenty of rear legroom. Thanks to its fastback shaping, Arteon offers a lot of trunk storage, and the standard 60:40 rear seats folded down. The cabin experience is refined to a higher level with ultra-modern design and premium materials. The dashboard is organized along a straight line and features extended air vents across the entire width. Dash panels flow directly into the front door trim panels, wrapping around front passengers. Three-zone Climatronic® automatic climate control is standard across the Arteon range, 12-way power seats in leatherette are standard in the Arteon SE, in SEL models customers get Nappa leather seating surfaces. A leather-wrapped steering wheel is standard, SEL Premium models offer a heated version with paddle shifters. The R-Line package welcomes drivers with the R-Line logo on the touchscreen and features a number of enhancements including contrast stitching on the steering wheel and shift knob, metallic décor pieces, black headliner, stainless-steel sport pedal covers and stainless-steel door sills with the R-Line logo.
Arteon SEL Premium models are equipped with a 700-watt Dynaudio sound system with 13 channels and 12 speakers. Arteon SEL and SEL Premium offer Volkswagen Digital Cockpit where the 12.3-inch high definition screen replaces the traditional instruments. The driver can select multiple display profiles: “Classic”, “Consumption & Range”, “Efficiency”, “Performance & Driver Assistance”, or “Navigation.” In the Navigation profile, the speedometer and rev counter are relocated to the sides to make room for the navigation map in the middle. All Arteon models are equipped with a glass-covered 8.0-inch capacitive touchscreen display. The infotainment systems offer SD card and USB multimedia interfaces, as well as Bluetooth®, SiriusXM® radio, and HD Radio. The Discover Media unit offers 2.5D navigation, featuring one-shot voice destination entry, destination entry with search and auto-complete, and predicts possible destinations based on often used routes. Volkswagen develops connected and intelligent vehicles technology via the Car-Net connectivity system. Features available through Car-Net are divided into three key areas: “App-Connect,” “Security & Service,” and “Guide & Inform.” Car-Net App-Connect smartphone integration for compatible devices is standard on all Arteon models.
Available Car-Net Security & Service features include Automatic Crash Notification, which can help automatically notify an operator who can quickly contact first responders in the event of a collision, Emergency Call, a feature that allows for quick access to customer specialists at the touch of a button, Roadside Assistance, for added peace-of-mind in the event of trouble on the road, and Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, which uses Car-Net Security & Service to assist law enforcement with locating your vehicle in the event that it is stolen. In addition, Car-Net Security & Service offers remote vehicle access, remote door lock and unlock remote honk and flash of lights, last parked location information, and remote status check. Car-Net Security & Service also includes Family Guardian, which offers features such as: speed alert, which notifies you when the predetermined maximum speed limit is exceeded, boundary alert, which lets you know when the vehicle has traveled outside of a pre-set virtual boundary, curfew alert, which notifies you if your vehicle is driven while curfew alert is on, and valet alert, which lets you know if your vehicle is driven more than 0.2 miles from the valet drop-off location. Diagnostics and maintenance information is also available through Car-Net Security & Service.
The available VW Car-Net app for smartwatch allows VW customers to control their vehicle from afar, remotely locking and unlocking doors and viewing the status of doors, windows, and sunroof. These consumers can also find a parked vehicle more quickly, with a map of the current vehicle location, and can get walking or driving directions to the vehicle. Equipped on SEL Premium models, Car-Net Guide & Inform offers enhanced navigation and infotainment. The in-vehicle navigation system features fuel prices, sports scores, movie information, and weather data as part of the three-month SiriusXM Travel Link trial. The all-new Arteon is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injection TSI® engine, making 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The power is taken to the front wheels via a standard eight-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic® shifting; 4Motion all-wheel drive is available on SE and SEL models and standard on SEL Premium models. The TSI engine features innovative solutions such as water-cooled exhaust gas routing through the cylinder head to the turbocharger (to help reduce full-load fuel consumption) and a dual injection system with direct and multi-port injection. Thanks to its fully electronic coolant control system, the four-cylinder engine also offers efficient thermal management with a short warm-up phase; this helps reduce friction and helps to decrease fuel consumption. A Start/Stop System is standard on all Arteon models. This technology stops the engine during idle when the brake pedal is held (such as when waiting at a red light). When the brake pedal is released, the engine restarts seamlessly.
The chassis and running gear of the new Arteon has been specifically enhanced compared to other Volkswagen MQB models, accentuating the Gran Turismo spirit of the car. A strut-type front suspension is mated with a four-link independent rear suspension with gas-filled dampers. Both axles are equipped with anti-roll bars. From a structural standpoint, the MQB platform provides extremely high body rigidity, despite the large rear hatch of the Arteon, body rigidity has been increased by 10 percent as measured against a comparable notchback model. This allows for very precise steering, high vehicle responsiveness, and optimal ride comfort. Ultra-high-strength steel is used in areas of the vehicle such as the side sills, as well as the side members and cross members of the body. Hot-formed steel is used for the B-pillars, center tunnel, bulkhead, rear side members, and roof side members.
The standard DCC adaptive damping system contributes to the balance between excellent handling and premium ride comfort by managing the suspension’s rebound and compression rates individually, helping to improve vehicle dynamics. In addition, the Arteon is equipped with the XDS® cross-differential lock at the front and rear, that applies this functionality to a larger range of dynamic performance, making the vehicle more agile. The XDS+ system operates like a limited-slip differential and can help compensate for understeer during cornering. For the first time in a Volkswagen DCC system, in addition to the familiar Driving Mode Selection featured programs (Comfort, Normal, Sport), the dampers on the Arteon can be adjusted across an expanded range through the individual settings submenu (Comfort+ to Sport+).
Arteon can be equipped with the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. The 4Motion system is activated before wheelspin occurs, helping eliminate traction losses. The system achieves this by using an advanced control function based on specific driving conditions. A control unit continually calculates the ideal drive torque for the rear wheels and controls how much of the torque should be transferred to the front wheels, it may be up to a maximum 50 percent.
To help protect occupants, the Arteon provides a combination of both passive and active safety systems. It features eight airbags as standard (front, side, and knee airbags for front passengers and side curtain airbags for outboard seating positions), along with a number of electronic safety systems, such as an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). As standard Arteon models are fitted with Volkswagen’s Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. This builds on the premise that a collision is rarely a single, instantaneous action, but rather a series of events that follow the initial impact—the most significant of which can cause additional collisions. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System helps address this by applying the brakes when a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus helping reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, the chance of additional damage. The Arteon also features a standard rearview camera, and includes the Volkswagen Intelligent Crash Response System that shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazard lights if the car is involved in certain types of collisions.
In the event of a collision with a pedestrian at low speeds, the reactive hood on the Arteon is raised via its hinges using pyrotechnic technology, helping to reduce the severity of injuries. Triggering of the reactive hood is targeted toward helping to reduce head trauma by increasing the gap between the engine and the more flexible hood. Forward Collision Warning system can warn the driver of potential critical front-end collision situations, both acoustically and visually by a warning symbol in the instrument cluster. Furthermore, an automatic jolt of the brakes can warn the driver of the danger. If the driver fails to break, Autonomous Emergency Braking is activated to help slow the vehicle. If the brake pedal is applied but the driver brakes too lightly, the brake pressure is increased by the system (Braking Support).
Side Assist is standard on every Arteon, it uses two radar sensors at the rear of the vehicle to scan the approaching traffic and is intended to warn drivers of potential danger in adjacent lanes. If the driver uses the turn signal to indicate a lane change while a vehicle is detected in a blind spot, the system utilizes a flashing LED symbol in the mirror housing. Even if the driver does not use a turn signal, the LED symbol in the mirror will illuminate if a vehicle is detected in the blind spot. The system is designed to help alert drivers in specific situations; stationary objects or oncoming vehicles do not trigger warnings, nor do vehicles more than one lane across away from the vehicle. If combined with Lane Assist system can also countersteer to help keep the car in the lane even if the turn signal is on. If the driver still tries to steer out of the lane, the system will warn with an additional vibration of the steering wheel.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go, standard on SEL and SEL Premium models use a forward facing radar to maintain a set speed while helping maintain a set distance to the vehicle in front. When the roadway ahead of the vehicle is clear, the system maintains the set speed. Arteon models fitted with ACC can match a vehicle in front and come to a stop if the vehicle in front does. If the car in front moves within three seconds, ACC will resume automatically to the set speed. If the car stands longer than three seconds, the driver can resume ACC control by pressing the accelerator pedal or the “resume” button on the steering wheel.
Park Assist is standard on SEL Premium models. This system can automatically steer the car into parallel and perpendicular parking spaces. The driver can override or deactivate the steering assistance at any time by turning the steering wheel, disengaging reverse gear or pressing the button. Included with Park Assist is front and rear Park Distance Control, which uses ultrasonic sensors located in the front and rear bumpers to monitor a range of up to approximately five feet in front or behind the vehicle. Maneuver Braking, a part of the Park Distance Control system, is intended to mitigate or help prevent collisions with static obstacles to the front and rear while the vehicle is maneuvered. The system is active when reverse gear is selected. Two final driver assistance features, standard on SEL Premium models, help provide drivers with better visibility. High Beam Control (Light Assist) automatically raises the headlamp high beams above 40 mph on dark or poorly lit roads, if there is no oncoming traffic detected. The Overhead View Camera (Area View) uses the car’s four cameras to help give you a better view of what is around your vehicle.