Flagship fastback from Volkswagen

New “five-door coupe” Arteon on sale next month.

Volkswagen has released prices and specs for its new five-door coupe, the Arteon.

The five-door fastback arrives in VW showrooms from September, priced from £34,305.

Sitting above the Passat in Volkswagen’s range, the Arteon promises five-seat hatchback practicality wrapped in a coupe-like shape.

It will go up against similar models from Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

If £34,000 seems a little steep for a Volkswagen, fear not, cheaper models will follow in due course.

At launch, the most affordable Arteon will come with a 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

For now, UK buyers will be offered two trim lines – Elegance and R-Line – while three engine options are available for now.

Later this year we’ll get entry-level cars using VW’s new 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine, tuned to 148bhp and available with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DSG. A mid-spec 187bhp 2.0-litre TSI petrol with a DSG gearbox will also be added.

Standard kit includes the Discover Navigation system with eight-inch colour touchscreen, 12.3in Active Info Display, 18in alloys, leather upholstery, three-zone climate control, Bluetooth audio and telephone connectivity, and Volkswagen Media Control, which enables passengers to control the infotainment system via a smartphone or tablet.

All models are front-wheel drive apart from the 276bhp 2.0 TSI and 237bhp 2.0 TDI engines, which come with all-wheel drive as standard.

VW intends the Arteon to appeal on practicality as well as style and its 563litre boot is a lot bigger than the 480 litres of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe and Audi A5 Sportback.

The Volkswagen Arteon goes on sale in September with prices starting at a little over £34,000 – although cheaper versions will join the range later.