VW Arteon - Geneva Motor Show Live

Will go on sale in Germany in mid-June 2017.

The 2017 Geneva Motor Show has staged the world debut of the VW Arteon, Volkswagen's new global flagship model. The VW Arteon is the production version of the VW Sport Coupe Concept GTE from the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

Positioned above the VW Passat, the VW Arteon is the successor to the VW CC (VW Passat CC). The 5-door fastback's exterior, which was designed by Tobias Suhlman, Head of Volkswagen Design, sees minimal changes from the concept version. The car has a combination of design elements from classic sports cars and luxurious saloons.

The bonnet extends over the entire front-end like in a sports car and is one of the largest ones in the entire Volkswagen Group. The radiator grille is the widest and deepest among all Volkswagen models, and is the face of the next generation products. The upper cross-bars enclose the LED headlights. The headlamps and grille seamlessly integrate into each other and the bonnet overlaps elements to form one harmonious unit.

The low-slung, coupe-like profile adds greatly to the car's sporty character. There's a line which starts in the radiator grille that continues through the sides to create a character line which covers the entire length and runs into the tail lights. The doors have frameless windows and the daylight opening, which extends into the C-pillar, is surrounded by a chrome frame.

At the rear, the backglass swiftly slopes downwards like in a typical GT, leaving little space for the liftgate's sheet metal which ends in a subtle spoiler. The LED tail lights have dynamic indicators and there's wide-spaced 'ARTEON' branding below the Volkswagen logo. Chrome-plated exhaust system tailpipes further add to the appeal.

On the inside, the car is not much different when compared with the VW Passat (B8) and the China-only VW Phideon. Parts shared with these models are evident on the dashboard and other places.

The VW Arteon measures 4,862 mm in length, 1,871 mm in width and 1,427 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,841 mm. Like every recent new generation Volkswagen, it's based on MQB modular platform. Volkswagen will offer the Arteon with six turbocharged engines in the following specifications:

• 110 kW (150 PS) 1.5-ltire TSI Evo petrol engine with 6-speed manual/(optional) 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
• 140 kW (190 PS) 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine with 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and 4MOTION all-wheel drive system
• 206 kW (280 PS) 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine with 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and 4MOTION all-wheel drive system
• 110 kW (150 PS) 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine with 6-speed manual /(optional) 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
• 140 kW (190 PS) 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine with 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and (optional) 4MOTION all-wheel drive system
• 176 kW (240 PS) 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine with 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and 4MOTION all-wheel drive system

LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, 20-inch alloy wheels, LED tail lights, panoramic sunroof, aluinium pedals, Active Info Display (virtual instrument cluster), head-up display, three-zone automatic air conditioning, heated steering wheel and heated front seats with massage function, new Discover Pro infotainment system with a 9.2-inch glass screen and gesture control and eight-speaker sound system are some of the key features of the VW Arteon.

The VW Arteon is built in Emden, Germany, and will go on sale in the country in mid-June 2017. Volkswagen has confirmed that it will start taking the Arteon's pre-orders in the first few European countries immediately after its world premiere at the Swiss show.