2021 Volkswagen Arteon 2.0T SEL R-Line 4Motion – Re-Driven in Racy

LINEARITY APPRECIATED: The debut of Volkswagen Arteon in 2019 was an undisputed effort to steer a VW Passat CC Four Door coupe successor more directly into the prestige lane.

A GRANDER COMFORT COUPE: Namely, a reworked sportsback configuration penned with a lower, more flared shoulder stance, fitted with a potent turbocharged in-line four gas engine, a traditional automatic transaxle and softer variable electronic damping make Arteon a more mature and useful grand tourer than the VW Passat CC attempted. Fighting alone for survival of a dwindling niche in this market, Volkswagen supplied a mildly updated 2021 VW Arteon SEL R-Line 4Motion for a Roadblazing.com Re-Drive.

2021 Volkswagen Arteon 4Motion Driving Hits:

• 268 horsepower from detuned VW EA 888 Gen.3 TFSI Mk. 7 Golf R CXJE
• 258 pound-feet torque
• On demand viscous clutch differential all-wheel drive
• 8-speed automatic torque converter planetary transaxle (exclusive to North America)
• ample surface road & highway overtaking power
• XDS electronic front limited slip differential standard 
• Drive modes x 3, include customization of throttle & transmission mapping, suspension damping
• 28 combined miles per gallon, 570 miles highway range
• Fully independent suspension w/ DCC variable electronic damping for a taut but isolated Audi type ride
• Exemplary rigid MQB platform
• Hand hammered fenders and rear quarter panels
• Prestige level of cabin sound isolation

2021 Volkswagen Arteon 4Motion Driving Misses:

• Some mass and body float felt in any less than Sport DCC setting
• Automatic planetary transmission is slow to kickdown and upshifts too soon
• Strained engine noise no match for CC’s VR-6 sounds
• Premium unleaded gasoline recommended

What the 2021 VW Arteon Has Got:

• Pricing: from $38,190 (incl. destination) for an 8-speed automatic 2021 Volkwagen Arteon SE front-wheel drive.
  
  • As tested top 2021 Volkswagen Arteon SEL R-Line 4Motion all-wheel drive trim priced at $44,985
• Sleek, muscular fastback adaptation of executive sedan with utility of a 5-door sportback

• Attractive straked demi-grille mates with thinner LED headlights reminiscent of an Audi R8

• Accommodates 4.75 grown adults in much better comfort than the preceding Passat CC
• Deeply low cargo bay holds 27.2 cubic feet worth of belongings

• 60/40% split folding 2nd Row seatbacks w/ center pass-through can swallow a couple of bicycles.
• Turned metal dash & door accents, tightly pebbled soft plastics, felt lined door pockets and glove-box, minimized premium acting switches while retaining traditional rotary dual flanking rotary infotainment knobs.
• Comprehensive standard feature set
  • √ Keyless entry, push button ignition; √ 3-zone automatic climate control w/ haptics contols;
  • √ LED headlights & taillights, rain sensing windshield wipers
  • √ Auto dimming rear view mirror, √ Power folding side mirrors; √ Full express power windows x 4
  • √ Two-tone leatherette 12-way heated power front seats; √ Leather steering wheel w/ haptic swipe motion controls; √ Stainless steel pedals
  • √ 12.3″ TFT variable Digital Cockpit w/ map projection;
    

    

     
  • √ new 8.0″ MIB 3 gesture, swipe and touch LCD media display w/ wireless voice control / alert navigation; √ wireless App-Connect; √ USB-C x 2; √ Bluetooth and smart phone messaging
  • +1 Excellent 8-speaker, 320 W streaming audio with HD-radio
  • Android Auto, AppleCar Play and MirrorLink phone projection, Sirius XM satellite radio (90 days trial);
  • Car-Net concierge w/ Amazon Alexa by subscription with Verizon or T-Mobile
• Excellent safety features & ratings
  • +1 IIHS Top Safety Pick
• Driver assist tech (standard)
  • Pedestrian & vehicle collision avoidance braking, blind spot & rear cross traffic warning; post collision brake lock
• 4 year / 50,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty includes 2 years maintenance
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What the 2021 VW Arteon Has Not (or Not Preferred):

• Adaptive cruise control, Lane Keep Assist w Travel Assist, Auto high beam lights, Road-sign display, Fore and Rear park warning included only on SEL and higher trims
• Power liftgate only on top trim
• Tilting front center armrest distant from console shift lever
• No heated steering wheel
• Plenty of dark grey hard plastic trim wouldn’t cut it in prestige executive car
• Lack of front occupant knee padding on doors or center console
• MIB 3 infotainment display remains laggy, glare prone & finger print showcase
• No USB-A port, 12V port x 1 aft of front center console
• No subscription TravelLink satellite travel information apps available

Standout Feature(s) on 2021 VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON SEL R-LINE 4MOTION :

• 30 color customizable variable night cabin accent illumination with upper door panel multi-segment translucent lighting
  

  

• Nappa leather seating; 3-position driver’s seat & mirror memory, w driver’s seat comfort exit
• “R” grille + fender logos, exclusive 19″ two tone alloy wheels, unique Sport steering wheel w/ dorsal mounted transmission paddle shifters.
• Illuminated white LED light bar links headlight DRLs across grille

Roadblazing.com Says: Flashes of Audi A7, priced downmarket, aims to earn some prestige grand touring respect.

Contributing Editor: S. Frissell

SEE ROADBLAZING.COM’s COMPLETE BOTTOM LINE REVIEW AND PHOTO GALLERY OF THE 2019 VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON SEL 4MOTION BELOW

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WHAT: 2019 Volkswagen Arteon R-Line 4Motion (VW Group B8 platform) executive fastback sedan. The new VW Arteon = hatchback version of the 8th generation the Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) platform based Mk. 8 Euro VW Passat. In China Arteon is named…no surprise… “CC“.

 

NAMING: Arteon = “Artem” the Latin word for design

Standard Power: transverse 2.0 L turbocharged DOHC 16V DI gas I-4 = 268 hp/ 258 lb-ft @ 1950 rpm + 8-speed automatic torque converter planetary gear transaxle, XDS front axle limited slip;

Drive Modes: 3 [throttle, shift, suspension] Drive Modes = Eco, Normal, Sport (customizable).

Optional Drivetrain: PTU 4Motion all-wheel drive.

WHAT (A) DIFFERENCE(S):

While 4-door coupes were all the rage in 2010, Grafting an elongated fastback rump to a versatile hatchback better aligns with recent premium and luxury brand forays into aspirational grand touring sedans. E.G.: Audi A7, Porsche Panamera, Kia Stinger, Buick Regal.

Volkswagen Arteon deviates from Passat CC Mk.1’s 4-door coupe profile to join the ranks of premium / luxury aspirational grand tourers by adopting their contemporary fastback with rear liftgate form.

√ Horizontal chrome bands bleed into overlapping headlamp tandem DRL’s; Front bumper camouflaged by similar horizontal banding; √ Exaggerated inboard arrows pinch lower front fascia corners; √ Raised front wheel arches marry the clamshell hood sides; √ Muscularly flared beltline creass span to trunk lid; √ Wide lower body spats; √ Door mount wing mirrors.

√ Slender C-pillar made possible by pronounced kink; √ A long sloped liftgate ends in a creased decklid below the spoiler; √ Thinner wrap-around horizontally segmented LED taillamps; √ Upper bumper lip; √ Chrome lower fascia band and dual trapezoidal exhaust outlets; √ Rear lower fascia drawn to center forming registration tag pocket.

WHY: People’s premium car grows from constrictive 4-Door coupe into sprawling sportback.

 

WHY: The most driving focused of volume mid-size sedans needed forced induction to compete;

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