What's the news?
Volkswagen's new flagship model, the Arteon, has officially gone on sale in Ireland, with prices starting from €43,295.
The sleek five-door fastback sits above the Passat and is a more upmarket replacement for the now discontinued Volkswagen CC.
In Ireland, there are three specification grades: Arteon, Arteon Elegance and Arteon R-Line. These are set out in a Y-structure, with the Arteon forming the base model and Elegance and R-Line providing refined and sporty styles respectively.
There is a choice of three engines, all diesel, ranging in power from 150- to 240hp. There is a six-speed manual gearbox as standard with the 150hp engine, while a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission is available for an additional €2,200. Both the 190- and 240hp engines come only with the seven-speed DSG automatic. The more powerful 240hp BiTurbo model features Volkswagen's Adaptive Chassis Control as standard, and this is available to order on other Arteon R-Line cars at the cost of €1,201.
The standard Arteon specification includes 18-inch alloy wheels, ErgoComfort seats, an eight-inch 'Discover Media' infotainment system that incorporates Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic wipers, three-zone Climatronic air conditioning, park distance control and predictive cruise control. Most buyers in Ireland are expected to choose the Arteon Elegance model, which comes with a higher level of equipment. Upgraded 'Muscat' 18-inch alloy wheels, reversing camera, LED rear lights, Voice Control and the 12.3-inch Active Info Display are among the standard features along with Alcantara seat upholstery with part-leather side bolsters.
For those keener on a sportier image, the Arteon R-Line gains 19-inch 'Montevideo' alloy wheels and an exterior styling kit that is more aggressive in appearance. R-Line badging appears on the steering wheel, seats, scuff plates and the exterior, too. Other R-Line items include dynamic rear indicators, dynamic cornering lights, voice control and, if you choose the 240hp engine, Adaptive Chassis Control.
Anything else?
As part of the launch programme, Volkswagen Ireland is offering upgrade packages at a reduced cost. One such package adds Keyless Access, a heated steering wheel and rear view camera to the standard Arteon model for a price of €599, which would usually cost €1,255. The Arteon Elegance model can be upgraded with the Discover Pro Sat Nav featuring Gesture Control, a panoramic sunroof and heated steering wheel for a cost of €999, a saving of €1,461. Meanwhile, Arteon R-Line models can have the Discover Pro Sat Nav with Gesture Control, panoramic sunroof and the Dynamic Sound System added at a cost of €1,499 versus the usual €3,620.
Follow this link to read our full first drive review of the Volkswagen Arteon.