Volkswagen Arteon R-Line : Visual Art’
Singapore – This is Lincoln. Lincoln is a busy guy, with a very full schedule. He also has many places to go to during his work day. We know this… because we actually know Lincoln.
Lincoln also likes a spot of green tea in the afternoon, and puts bak kwa into anything he can lay his hands on. He once even brought us sandwiches with that stuff, and pineapple in it. He’s just that little different.
You see, Lincoln is one who is not afraid of being himself. A little different. A little unique.
And a little curious.
And oh, about those bak kwa and pineapple sandwiches? It actually works!
Lincoln also loves cars, and it is no secret that all of us here at TopGear Singapore do too. So when he set his eyes on the Volkswagen Arteon, it was simply love at first sight. The Arteon is a stunningly-designed fastback with a coupe-like silhouette… A car that is… a little different and a little unique.
The Arteon has been refreshed for 2022 and it distinguishes itself with a low and wide stance, swoopy roofline and an extroverted grille design. The latter of which we speak even has an LED light strip that connects both ends to accentuate the width of the car and plays into the car’s headlamps.
Lincoln points out the little details about the Arteon that he’s noticed. In particular, the elegant frameless windows have caught his fancy, as do the door-mounted wing mirrors, which let you judge where the road ends and the curb begins, especially when making a turn.
He certainly finds pleasure in the Nappa carbon leather upholstery and to his surprise, the ergoComfort sports seats even feature a massage function – great for those long days on the road when he has to hop from one meeting to another.
It isn’t just the Arteon’s comfort amenities that make his day, because it has tech toys aplenty to keep his eyes and ears busy too. A Digital Cockpit Pro with a 10.25-inch cluster and a ‘Discover Pro’ infotainment system are fitting accompaniments to the car’s progressive interior.
In the R-Line, the latter features a 9.2-inch touchscreen (the Arteon Elegance makes do with the 8-inch ‘Composition Media’), which provides wireless connectivity for both Apple and Android mobile devices – an important feature for Lincoln, as he no longer needs to fumble for cables.
Hooking-up to the infotainment unit is as seamless as leaving one’s smartphone’s Bluetooth connectivity on. Furthermore, to ensure that Lincoln’s mobile device is constantly juiced-up for those on-the-fly Zoom meetings, the Arteon also features a wireless charging pad.
There are some neat touches to the interior. One that truly stands out… or should we say blends right in, are the touch-sensitive controls for the climate system and on the refreshed steering wheel (the same one you find on the award-winning Golf R-Line eTSI and iconic Golf GTI). Ok Lincoln, quit playing with them! We still have to tell our good readers about the rest of the car!
While it has the silhouette of a coupe, the Arteon does that thing a sedan does so well – it’ll accommodate four adults without the need for compromise simply because it was designed from the ground-up to do so.
The Arteon makes a powerful visual statement but it’s not all-show and no-go. A turbocharged 2.0-litre puts out 190hp and 320Nm and is matched to a 7spd DSG dual-clutch gearbox, which delivers lightning-quick and seamless shifts.
The advanced adaptive suspension is another one of Lincoln’s favourite features. The suspension’s intensity can be dialled-up or down, thanks to its innovative 15-stage adjustable Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC).
Simply-put, you can find that sweet spot between comfort and stiffness, as well as enjoy that driving confidence you’d expect from a sportscar… or as Lincoln simply puts, having your pineapple bak kwa sandwich and eating it!
Speaking of great combinations, the Arteon is also equipped with a fine roster of assistance systems. This includes Front Assist with City Emergency Brake, which is designed to reduce the effects of an impact, or even avoid a collision altogether. Rear Traffic Alert warns you of obstacles and oncoming traffic while reversing, and will even stop the car when it spots vehicles or pedestrians approaching from the side.
So if your taste is refined enough to be able to appreciate how different folks like different strokes, VW’s bold and progressive work of Art’ could be the masterpiece that brings some sartorial joy to your life.
PHOTOS Clifford Chow
POST-PRODUCTION Jonathan Ng
Volkswagen Arteon R-Line
Engine 1984cc, inline4 Power/rpm 190hp/4200-6000rpm Torque/rpm 320Nm/1500-4100rpm Transmission 7spd DSG dual-clutch 0-100km/h 7.9secs Top Speed 237km/h Fuel Consumption 6.5l/100km
CO2 135g/km
Keyword: Volkswagen Arteon R-Line : Visual Art’