Volkswagen of America retired the ageing Passat last year, with a Limited Edition serving as the midsize sedan’s farewell. According to a new report from Automotive News, the Arteon will face the same fate and be phased out of the lineup as early as 2024. The ID has already been confirmed for North America. Aero, shown below as a concept car, is expected to replace the stylish ICE-powered liftback in a roundabout way.
It’s worth noting that our spies spotted an Arteon prototype with a modified interior and tablet-like infotainment at the end of June. The screen was much larger and protruded from the dashboard, as it does on the ID. models, and it came with a reworked centre console with different switchgear. The test vehicle in question was the more practical Shooting Brake, which VW unfortunately does not sell in the United States.
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It’s too early to tell whether the prototype depicted a second-generation Arteon or an update to the current model, but it appears that the US will not get that car. With rumours circulating that the next-generation Passat will only be available in waggon form in Europe, VW may wish to keep the Arteon in its lineup as a substitute. It would be a more luxurious alternative to the mechanically related Skoda Superb, which the Czech automaker has already stated will be available in both liftback and waggon configurations.
Regarding the ID. Aero, the MEB-based EV, was supposed to be shown as a concept at the Beijing Motor Show in April, but the event was cancelled due to a coronavirus outbreak. Essentially an evolution of the ID from 2018. The car, Vizzion, will first be available in China next year before expanding to Europe and the United States.
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The technical specifications are mostly unknown, but we do know it has a drag coefficient of 0.23 and can travel 385 miles (620 kilometres) in the WLTP cycle. VW stated the identification. Aero is nearly five metres (16 feet) long and has 22-inch wheels, at least in concept form.
The production model could be dubbed ID.7, putting it above the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, and China-only ID.6. An ID.8 has been announced as a larger electric SUV roughly the same size as the Atlas / Teramont. According to logic, the Aero / ID.7 will also get a waggon version, similar to the 2019 ID. The concept of Space Vizzion.
