While plans develop for hot new versions of Volkswagen’s electric-powered ID models, the company’s R division is expanding into a new niche for its combustion-engined cars.
Having recently added the 296bhp T-Roc R to its ranks, Volkswagen’s performance division has now turned its attention to the Arteon line-up. A new 329bhp range-topping Volkswagen Arteon R saloon will arrive during the final quarter of 2020 as part of the range’s mid-life facelift, and it's already been spotted out testing with the usual R design cues such as quad tailpipes and blue brake callipers.
Following the hot version of the Arteon saloon, Volkswagen R plans to unleash a similarly powered version of the upcoming Arteon Shooting Brake in the first half of 2021.
The coupé-cum-estate, which will be launched in standard form first at the start of the year, has the distinction of being among the last all-new combustion-engined models developed by Volkswagen.
In a bid for added practicality and greater load space, the Arteon Shooting Brake adopts a longer roof and sloping tailgate. The result gives it what Volkswagen insiders describe as “estate-like qualities while retaining its characteristic styling”.
Power for the new Arteon R is due to come from the same version of Volkswagen’s turbocharged 2.0-litre engine that is earmarked for the new Golf R, which is also set to be launched during the second half of 2020.
According to details revealed at a recent Volkswagen dealer presentation in Germany, the four-cylinder petrol unit is claimed to develop up to 325bhp and 332lb ft of torque. It sends its drive through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a four-wheel drive system that, Autocar understands, has been reworked to provide a more rearward apportioning of drive.
By comparison, the most powerful of today’s Arteon models, the 2.0 TSI, offers 187bhp and 236lb ft.
A new Touareg R is also due to arrive in 2020. It receives a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid driveline similar to that used by the Porsche Cayenne S-Hybrid, with a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine and gearbox-mounted electric motor providing around 450bhp
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So what happened to the 2.0 BiTDI 240ps 4x4 or the 2.0 TSI 272ps 4x4?
Seriously...why not actually check first.
I'd begun to wonder whether
I'd begun to wonder whether VW still sold the Arteon in the UK. I saw a few when it first went on sale, but I haven't seen one for a while, and definitely no newly registered ones. It doesn't seem to have caught on like the CC did, maybe the shooting brake will be more popular.