Volkswagen Arteon R Shooting Brake
It wears VW’S most sporting badge, so can the biggest R-car handle a trackday?
OUR ARTEON HAS MORE THAN LIVED UP to its practical billing during its time on the evo fleet so far, its Shooting Brake body style making it the default choice for hauling families or cumbersome items, or sometimes even both at the same time. Yet while this R version is a sharper steer than the R-line model we ran a while ago, its generous dimensions still make it an unusual choice for a spirited track session.
Nevertheless, this month our big Volkswagen found itself at Brands Hatch, with a remit to tackle the Indy Circuit’s challenging corners, dramatic elevation changes and patchwork of surfaces in the company of a number of other fast VWS celebrating the delivery of the company’s 10,000th R model in the UK (a Tiguan R, since you asked).
The Arteon R is equipped with the same 4Motion all-wheel-drive system as the Mk8 Golf R, but an extra helping of wheelbase and a 1793kg kerb weight aren’t on its side for circuit agility. Thankfully the Golf’s 316bhp Evo4 EA888 2-litre turbocharged fourcylinder is also present, and provides decent levels of grunt for the open road, but as we know, track driving often offers new perspectives.
This was my first time in an Arteon R, but it was immediately apparent that it has strands of the Golf R’s DNA beneath its sleek Lapiz Blue skin. Despite the track being wet, the car generated a surprising level of grip thanks to its combination of soft spring rates, bespoke Pirelli P Zero tyres, Adaptive Chassis Control and torque vectoring capabilities. The variable-ratio steering took some getting used to, but it made it very easy to exploit the grip on offer from the front axle, especially at the higher speeds achieved on track. Useful steering feel was almost entirely absent, however, so it was difficult to gauge the limits, although admittedly this wasn’t helped by the less-than-ideal conditions. The sodden track also no doubt contributed to the Arteon occasionally transitioning to oversteer with little warning.
Much like on the road, the touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel were all too easy to accidentally activate through tighter turns such as Druids Hairpin. While none of these activations changed anything vital to the performance of the car, the appearance of an unexpected dashboard alert isn’t the kind of distraction you need while navigating a high-speed section of racetrack!
The Arteon R carries an extra 242kg over a Golf R, and given it has identical power, it didn’t come as a surprise that it didn’t feel as quick on track. The quoted 4.9sec 0-62mph time is just two tenths down on the Golf’s, but straight-line performance actually feels weaker than the numbers and the Arteon’s ‘most powerful Volkswagen estate’ credentials would suggest. Weight is the enemy when it comes
‘A trackday is perhaps one of the last places a typical Arteon R owner would take their car’
to performance, of course, and inevitably this becomes even more apparent on track.
Fast lapping also amplified some other shortcomings. The lack of tactility in the shift paddles, the subdued exhaust noise and the shortage of powertrain feedback are minor niggles during normal road driving, but on track they combine to make it difficult to instinctively determine your current revs and gear. More seat time would likely help matters, but there were a few occasions when I shifted a gear too low on corner entry, only realising my mistake when reapplying the power on the exit.
More positively, the brakes felt capable and remained strong throughout the day, coping with numerous 15-minute stints without any significant signs of performance degradation. The Arteon also tackled the full day at Brands then took me the 200 miles back home, in comfort, without a single blip. Granted, Volkswagen did have mechanics on hand to give everything a once-over and carry out a precautionary refresh of the brakes at the end of the day, but the car coped well regardless.
A trackday is perhaps one of the last places a typical Arteon R Shooting Brake owner would take their car, but it can make very good progress around a circuit nonetheless, achieving consistent lap times as well as peak speeds not far from those achieved by a Golf R on the same stretch. While our car’s £64,870 with-options price would give you a choice of countless considerably more talented machines for track work, few, if any, could rival the Arteon’s comfort and capaciousness for all those hours we spend driving on public roads. And as we now know, if you did decide to take your Arteon R to a trackday, it certainly wouldn’t embarrass itself.
Date acquired November 2022 Total mileage 13,167 Mileage this month 967 Costs this month £0 mpg this month 22.7