VW Reportedly Working on VR6-powered Arteon R With Over 400 Horsepower
Volkswagen’s Arteon is shaping up to be a worthy successor to the outgoing CC — even if the brand doesn’t like framing it that way. With improved dynamics, technology, and on-road presence on offer, there is a lot to like about the brand’s “ five-seat GT car.” However, while the America-bound 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder should offer serviceable acceleration, we wouldn’t have hated seeing VW offer something with a little more oomph.
Turns out we may be in luck. Volkswagen has a 3.0-liter turbocharged VR6 in development for use on the Chinese-market variant of the Atlas, and someone in the company had the good sense to cram it inside a prototype Arteon.
Speaking to Car Throttle during the launch of the Europe’s next Polo GTI, VW product line spokesperson Martin Hube confirmed the motor’s existence in the testbed hatchback. “I’m totally convinced that this combination is extremely nice,” he said. “We’ve combined it with the last version of the Haldex [four-wheel drive system], where you can provoke a bit of oversteer. This is a real agile, powerful car.”
According to Hube, the turbocharged 3.0-liter produces 404 bhp and should be sufficient to “beat all the Porsche Panameras out of your way” on the Autobahn.
Car Throttle noted, to its dismay, that the VR6 probably won’t make it to the United Kingdom. However, when questioned, Volkswagen would neither confirm or deny the model’s future in North America — only saying that the Arteon would launch with the aforementioned four-cylinder turbo in 2018.
[Image: Volkswagen]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Make it rear wheel drive with a two door convertible version. And make it affordable. It has to be, because the VW badge (and VW dealerships) are something that potential buyers will have to overcome. Otherwise it'll be overpriced, undersold and very expensive to repair when something goes wrong with the all-wheel-drive system. But kudos to the guy who thought of this and put one together.
It needs to come here, and the power train would also do well in the Atlas, me thinks. Competitor to the EcoBoost Explorer and V-8 Grand Cherokee/Durango.
So VW needs a second premium nameplate that starts with "A"?
Saw it in person in Europe last summer. Looks almost as good in reality as it does in the pics, truly quite stunning design and from VW of all places.