VW Arteon: 0-60 & Quarter Mile Times

‍‍‍What are the 0 - 60 and Quarter Mile Times for the VW Arteon?

As a sedan, the Arteon could put up some outstanding performance numbers. All Arteons have Volkswagen's 2.0 L - Turbo 4, capable of producing 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. There were a couple of other offerings for Arteons in Europe, but only one engine was offered to domestic owners.

For 2022 MY, VW tweaked the engine with a few enhancements and paired it with a new seven-speed automatic transmission (down from the eight-speed it had been offering). The enhancement worked as the new engine bumped the power to 300 hp and 295 lb/ft of torque. As you can see from the table below, there was an increase in speed. Not to say that the Arteon wasn’t quick before. It was. According to Car and Driver, the Arteon was very quick, as illustrated below.

‍How Did Arteon Track Times Compare to Other Luxury Sedans?

For the 2022 model, Arteon more than held its own against the competition in the crowded luxury market.

‍When the Arteon was introduced in 2018 at the Chicago Auto Show for the North American market, VW had high hopes for the vehicle. They named the car ‘Arteon” was to draw attention to the car's beautiful design (Arteon means art in Latin). The company expected the Arteon to take the place of the CC, and attract buyers who needed reliability mixed with luxury in a midsized sedan. The Arteon was supposed to be the best of both worlds, that is, until it wasn’t.

Why Has the Arteon Failed to Generate Sales for VW?

Unfortunately, the Arteon was anything but the resounding success VW hoped for. While the car named did reasonably well in China, (with the nameplate - CC), the Arteon just failed to lift sales in the US.

Pesky Emissions Standards

Part of the issue was the result of a two year delay caused by the vehicle failing to meet the more stringent emission standards that were in place in America. Even after the exhaust system was brought into compliance, in its first year of sales, barely 2449 units were sold domestically. While those numbers have grown over the past couple of years, the car has only once topped 5k units, which is pretty poor, considering the fanfare it received.

Basic, Bland Comforts

If it is one that American owners like, it is comfort. Most reviewers like those of Car and Driver or Motortrend liked the car’s performance, but dinged the infotainment system's basic, average interior, and user integration. There is something about paying almost $40 grand for a car and getting what you paid for. When VW failed to deliver the creature comforts other manufacturers were offering, buyers felt cheated. Lexus, Audi and Infinity, were more tried and true runners in the luxury market, and even the upstart Genesis G80 offered more. .

What’s in a Name?

A big part of the reason the Arteon just didn’t take off may have to do with its name more than anything else. While the car is designed well, (you have to hand it to German engineering), it was assembled in China, and as it started to gain momentum just about the time a global pandemic hit, supplies from China came to a grinding halt, and that included this car.

I think part of the issue had to do with the name of the car. No one wants to name their car after a Latin root word meaning art, especially for a performance sedan. (I know, Volvo is Latin for ‘I roll”). But hardly anyone would name a car, “art” Latin origin or not. Arteon does not conjure up images of performance, speed and even design. It feels more like a name for a sparkling water brand.

Is The Arteon a Reliable Car?

The one thing the Arteon had going for it was that it was a high recommendation from Consumer Reports. During their yearly testing, the Arteon consistently scored well (an 82 out of 100) and thereby garnered the “Recommended” status every year it was available for sale.

The 2021 Arteon was equipped with an optional safety system called Emergency Assist 2.0. Primarily, the system was designed to alert the driver if there had been no touching of the brakes, or accelerator, or hands on the wheel. An alarm would sound, and shou;d the driver not respond, the car is equipped with the ability to apply enough braking force and steering capability to pull the car to a sholder and call 911.

Why Has VW Decided to Scrap the Arteon?

Automobile manufacturers are under tremendous pressure to meet mpg standards and make their cars more eco-friendly. Almost every company, including VW, are feeling the pinch to offer more EVs in their lineup. In fact, VW has committed to a bold effort to make one half of its global production electric by the year 2030. And if they are going to reach that goal, some tough decisions have to be made, like which nameplates to keep and which to scrap. The Arteon just didn’t make the cut.