Volkswagen Arteon R shares its 316bhp powertrain with the Golf R and is available as either a liftback or Shooting Brake estate
The new Volkswagen Arteon R is available to order now. Prices start from £51,615 for the fastback and £52,435 for the Shooting Brake estate, with both models sporting a host of cosmetic tweaks over the standard Arteon
Both variants have 316bhp and 420Nm of torque thanks to the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine fitted to the Golf R hot hatchback. The unit sends drive to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and the Shooting Brake and fastback both sprint from 0–62mph in 4.9 seconds, while top speed is an electronically limited 155mph.
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Other chassis upgrades over the standard Arteon include larger brake discs, bigger R-branded calipers, an electronic locking differential, adaptive dampers and Volkswagen’s customizable Dynamic Chassis Control driving modes.
The Arteon R also comes with a range of styling tweaks, designed to mark it out as the flagship variant in the car’s line-up. Upgrades include 19-inch alloy wheels, a redesigned front bumper (which shares the same air intakes as the Golf R), a new radiator grille, privacy glass, a fresh rear diffuser and a quad-exit exhaust system.
Inside, buyers get a pair of electrically adjustable and massaging Nappa-leather sports seats, stainless-steel pedals and a new heated leather steering wheel with larger shift paddles and capacitive buttons to control the car’s driving modes.
Three-zone climate control also comes as standard, along with a 30-colour customisable ambient lighting system, a panoramic sunroof, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9.2-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Optional extras include larger 20-inch alloy wheels (£565), a head-up display (£530) and a 10-speaker Harman/Kardon stereo (£1,235). The latter option has a 16-channel digital amplifier, and a subwoofer mounted in the boot.
There’s a decent amount of standard safety equipment too, including lane-changing assist, rear cross-traffic alert, a rear-view camera and Volkswagen’s Travel Assist driving tech, which allows the Arteon R to assume control of its steering, brakes and throttle on the motorway with the driver’s supervision.
Now read our long-term report on the Volkswagen Arteon R-Line…
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