All-New 2018 VW Arteon Teased Ahead of Geneva Debut

The successor to the CC looks promising in these shots

Volkswagen is bringing a long-awaited model to the Geneva Motor Show next month, the Arteon fastback sedan.

The name may not tell you much, but the Arteon will directly replace the CC (formerly known as the Passat CC) as a more upmarket version of the mainstream Passat midsize sedan.

By changing the name, VW is trying to tell us that the new model will be even more upmarket than its predecessor, bridging the gap between the Passat and a future Phaeton replacement.

Described by VW as "the avant-garde gran turismo," the Arteon is said to boast a roomy interior with "ample head and leg room at all seats," something the sloping roofline of the CC didn't allow. Not that the Arteon doesn't have a dynamic profile, as you can see in one of the photos showing the car's sleek shoulder section.

But the fastback sedan's design highlight is the front end which features new LED headlights and DRLs that merge with the chrome-plated crossbars of the massive radiator grille and the bonnet. On a personal note, I quite like the "headlight within headlight" design.

VW says general stuff about the Arteon: it will pack the latest generation of driver assistance systems, as well as features that are "typically reserved for luxury automobiles."

We do know, however, that it will be based on the same MQB modular platform as the Passat, which means it should get a similar range of four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines. A hybrid version is also in the cards, and rumor has it VW may offer a range-topping model fitted with the 300 hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 TFSI engine sourced from the China-exclusive VW Phideon.