2017 VW Arteon prototype first drive

Meet the VW Arteon, the car formerly known as the VW CC and, prior to that, the VW Passat CC.

We've now driven the production Arteon. Click here for the review

The name comes from the word 'art' and the made-up, but apparently upmarket-sounding, 'eon' suffix, which VW also uses on its Phaeton-replacing Phideon in China. For all that, it is this car's original name that gives the biggest clues as to where it is derived from, but of course Volkswagen, armed with its MQB architecture and its hastening push for more 'emotional' designs, wants to claim it is a unique design and give this European range-topping sports coupé its own space in which to play.

That space is set to be pretty rarified for a car wearing a VW badge, because the target market is traditional premium buyers from both the Audi A4/BMW 3 Series/Mercedes C-Class sector and the larger Audi A6/BMW 5 Series/Mercedes E-Class sector. More directly, it’s a BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé rival.

Although VW isn’t giving too much away, the evidence of poking around this prototype suggests it can compete on the comparison spreadsheets in terms of space and practicality, aided by a wheelbase increase over the standard Volkswagen Passat and outgoing CC, and a presumably (but yet to be revealed) lower price.

VW is eager that the spreadsheets don’t tell the full story, however, and while the heavy disguise of our test cars kept several secrets, it’s clear that the designers have been allowed to go to town in order to put the art into the Arteon (sorry). There’s the new family grille design, now more horizontal than ever and reaching between the headlights, with Audi-like indicators and big, broad shoulders. You need to squint at our pictures, but there’s enough to suggest it’s usefully differentiated from the Passat on the outside

The interior, though, looks entirely familiar, but that need be no bad thing, because the standard Passat is a lovely car to be in and here the cabin is even more commodious and well appointed. Spacious, upmarket and – especially with the Active Info Display digital dash display pioneered by Audi  under the Virtual Cockpit name, which will be offered here as an option - very modern, it oozes the appeal of premium rivals.

The space is excellent, too, with two six-footers happily able to sit behind one another and with no issues of head room in the rear. The boot is also large, extending to a seats-down 1700 litres, which, with its hatch opening, rather shades the practicality of saloon rivals.