Volkswagen has launched a new flagship sedan in South Africa. The Arteon is a sharply-styled enterprise class fastback and we drove the newcomer in Johannesburg this week. Do you have to consider the newcomer over its acclaimed rivals? The new Volkswagen Arteon joins a throng of business class sedans that are vying for consideration in a phase seemingly in decline as a result of the rising popularity of SUVs. With the (Passat) CC now confined to the history books, the Arteon slots in above the Passat and assumes the throne as Volkswagen's new flagship sedan. Is it worthy of your consideration? The Arteon is lengthy and broad, providing a spacious cabin and excessive ranges of occupant comfort and loading practicality. The Arteon is undeniably a trendy-wanting sedan. Its fastback styling, coupled with a long bonnet that culminates in a particular entrance visage with a plethora of chrome grille slats and full LED lighting treatment, make the Volkswagen significantly enticing at first glance.
Many choices in this segment undergo from "cookie-cutter syndrome" with usually bland, unexciting, run-of-the-mill designs and the Arteon is lucky to differentiate itself in that regard. It’s built on Volkswagen’s MQB platform and because of a wheelbase measuring 2 841 mm, the Arteon's interior area, notably for rear passengers is actually generous. You possibly can actually stretch out back there! The Arteon's interior can be familiar to Golf drivers and it is properly-geared up with an Active Info Display and huge infotainment system. The Arteon’s interior design might be acquainted to those that've ensconced themselves in a properly-specced Golf 7.5, with a clean and useful format that has proved well-liked with the automotive media and common consumers alike. As you'll count on, inside construct quality is superb with a suitably premium cabin ambience. Perhaps the largest highlight inside the Arteon R-Line is the standard digital Active Info Display and 9.2-inch Navigation Pro infotainment system, which lifts the interior's premium attraction to new heights. Other options embody adaptive cruise management with front help and city emergency braking, head-up show and a 360-diploma digicam. How does it drive?
While the 206 kW petrol boasts the most energy, we predict the 130 kW diesel strikes a better stability between efficiency and effectivity. There are 2 engines on supply in the Arteon together with the range-topping 206 kW/350 Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 130 kW/350 Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine. Our launch drive began behind the 'wheel of the 206 kW 4Motion R-Line. The Arteon is a complete grand tourer and it displayed wonderful ride quality during the drive; buyers could be assured of excessive levels of driving comfort, even within the sportiest derivative. The engine is paired with a slick 7-velocity twin-clutch transmission and shift paddles permit the driver to extract the most from the motor, while the car's on-street characteristics can be toggled via the Comfort, Eco and Sport driving modes. The Arteon delivers glorious journey comfort, which makes it good for lengthy-distance touring. If you wish to maximise efficiency, then the 130 kW turbodiesel-engined derivatives make more sense. Although the diesel R-Line DSG lacks the outright punch of its petrol-powered sibling, its engine still manages to ship acceptable efficiency.
The powerplant is pleasingly quiet and refined in operation and energy is delivered to the entrance wheels through a 6-speed DSG transmission. Fuel efficiency is claimed at 5.6 L/100km. This derivative displayed admirable cruising capability out on the freeway, but lacks immediacy lower within the rev range. However, we feel that this turbodiesel engine strikes a good steadiness between effectivity and performance and when you can't be bothered with dicing hot hatches then this is probably the Arteon to go for. Finding favour with model-aware consumers would be the Arteon's largest challenge on local soil. We came away impressed with what the Arteon brings to the desk. It’s a rather distinctive and trendy offering that appears better than most in this section and it’s spacious and elegantly designed inside ought to grab many buyers’ attention. Although its efficiency can’t be described as earth-shattering, the Arteon has ample grunt to fulfil its duty as a cushty, lengthy-distance grand tourer. Furthermore, customary specification is nice, which makes the bundle much more engaging.
The second-era Qashqai units a new benchmark for crossover design. Having outlined the unique crossover template in 2007, Nissan is taking the sector to a new stage thanks to daring design, extremely advanced engineering, intelligent technology and memorable attention to element. New from the bottom up, the brand new Qashqai is far greater than only a rework of its ground-breaking predecessor. The second-generation model is 20mm wider, 49mm longer and 15mm lower than the current automotive. Yet regardless of this discount in top, front and rear headroom ranges have really increased by 10mm and the raised driving position stays. The brand new Qashqai features a putting new look with powerful curves, clear strains and intricate particulars together with the choice of 19-inch alloy wheels. Through bold new elements such as the raised bonnet line and muscular wheelarches, the new Qashqai conveys a feeling of dynamic power. The Qashqai’s entrance end incorporates some of essentially the most advanced technology ever offered within the crossover sector. All fashions characteristic LED daytime working lights, certain versions are outfitted with much more refined know-how, with full LED power for both dip and principal beam.
