(November 29, 2016) German automaker Volkswagen Group on Monday teased an elongated new four-door sedan that provides clues on the company's style evolution in a bid to inject fresh design into its aging portfolio. VW said it will show off the Arteon for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in March. It's expected to hit the U.S. market in 2018.

According to Volkswagen, the Arteon will be a "four-door fastback" and will be "positioned above" the Passat sedan, making it the largest and likely most expensive car model in the brand's lineup.



The Arteon is a likely successor to the brand’s aging CC sedan that a U.S. spokesman for the company says is “under consideration” for the U.S. Arteon's fastback styling previews the next era of VW design, according to a company spokesman.

"In addition to a new and very emotive outline, Volkswagen is also introducing with the Arteon a highly expressive, horizontally accentuated brand look," VW said in a statement. "The bars of the radiator grille extend here into the three-dimensional front headlights, while LED lighting elements additionally emphasize the striking layout and demonstrate dominance."

According to German press reports, the Arteon is expected to go on sale next summer in Europe for about 33,000 euros ($35,000).

The new model will sit above the Passat sedan and replace the CC in VW’s global lineup, yet its U.S. prospects are unclear, leaving VW with a potential gap at the top of its U.S. car lineup ahead of the planned wind-down of the CC.

VW said the name Arteon derives from "art" and the suffix "eon," which means it's "a premium model."

Sources: Press reports, Automotive News