The Volkswagen Arteon R and Arteon Shooting Brake R are now available to order in the UK.
Both models are powered by Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine – which provides 320PS and 420Nm of torque – and have the latest 4MOTION all-wheel drive system.
The Arteon R and Arteon Shooting Brake R can both do 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds, before going on to an electronically-limited 155mph (where permitted). The Arteon R’s handling is just as impressive, too, with 4MOTION all-wheel drive augmented for optimum handling and dynamism by the R-Performance torque vectoring system.
The torque vectoring system – which was first seen on the new Golf R – can share power not only between the front and rear axles, but also between each rear wheel. Up to 50 per cent of the Arteon R’s drive force can be sent to the rear axle; this power can then be directed entirely to the outside rear wheel when cornering, virtually eliminating understeer.
This, in addition to the XDS electronic differential lock and Volkswagen’s Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive damping system (both of which are standard), forms the Arteon R’s handling prowess to a great level. The Arteon Rs are also first of their type from Volkswagen since the Passat R36 of 2008.
The R DNA of the high-performance and luxurious Arteon R and Arteon Shooting Brake R is hinted at by the 19-inch Adelaide alloy wheels, which sit over an 18-inch performance braking system (357mm front/310mm rear discs) with blue-finished brake callipers, and complement the model’s bespoke and sporty body styling.
