Midsize cars have lost massive ground to crossovers and SUVs over the last few years, but as long as there is still demand, companies will continue making them.
Volkswagen will soon have a new proposal for this segment in Europe, the Arteon Shooting Brake. The long-roof version of the regular liftback was spied testing on the roads of German recently, retaining camouflage on the taillights and the fake window trim that fails at masking the elegant sloping roofline.
The entire front end of the car will echo the 2021 Arteon, which is about to welcome its first mid-cycle refresh. The changes have been kept to a minimum, with the German automaker applying the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” saying. The air intakes in the bumper have been tweaked, the grille has less chrome now and the headlamps appear to be slightly smaller. The refreshed ‘Arteon’ lettering in a new font is missing from the scooped prototype’s tailgate, though.
Don’t expect any major upgrades inside, as they will probably be limited to the new infotainment system software and upholstery, but do look for the hottest model of them all, the Arteon R, to join the family. It will boast a sporty body kit, quad exhaust pipes, and drilled brake discs, among other goodies.
Power is likely to come from the 328 HP (333 PS / 245 kW) 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine shared with the new Golf R, and not the rumored 394 HP (400 PS / 294 kW) 3.0-liter VR6. The Arteon R will be an all-wheel drive machine with a dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission.
The facelifted Arteon and first-ever Arteon Shooting Brake will be unveiled on June 24, with the hot R variants likely a few months away.