Volkswagen Delays Arteon Release in the US

Debuted in Europe back in 2017, the Volkswagen Arteon is a sedan that is awaited by US customers too. Originally, the car was set to go on sale this summer in the US, but apparently the schedule has been changed. A VW spokesperson said that the Arteon won’t arrive until early 2019.

The spokesperson explained to Motor1 that the certification delays due to a “backlog in meeting the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP)” is what made Volkswagen pushed back the sedan’s release, and this is something the company had expected.

The new WLTP guidelines that apply today are stricter than before, making the test procedure more complicated for automakers. The WLTP came into effect on 1 September, replacing the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). VW boss Herbert Diess also admitted that the switch to WLTP is not an easy task for the German automaker.

The Volkswagen Arteon made its first appearance at the 2017 Geneva International Motor Show, and began selling in Europe later that year. The US version was unveiled last February at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show. It also had an R-Line variant displayed at the New York Auto Show a month later. That was when VW announced the sedan would hit US market by the end of the year.

The 2019 Volkswagen Arteon is powered by a 2.0-liter TSI engine pumping out 268 HP and 258 lb-ft of torque, paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. That output will be sent to front wheels, or all wheels with the optional 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.