Reports of a Shooting Brake version of the Volkswagen Arteon date back to last year, and while we weren’t entirely sure that it could happen, we can now drop the proverbial pinch of salt, as the car is real.
Named the Volkswagen CC Travel Edition, according to the Chinese media, the Arteon Shooting Brake has been developed by VW and its local partner FAW. It looks pretty much like the stylish five-door liftback at the front, bar the slightly updated bumper.
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Highlighting its more utilarian nature are the roof rails and plastic cladding mounted on the lower parts of the body. The back end sports a sloping tailgate whose design tries to stay true to the regular sedan while the bumper seems to carry over, with the necessary adjustments of course. As for the elongated roof, it ends behind the D pillars with a wing and opens up more boot space.
The pictures, shared on numerous Chinese media including Auto Sina, are said to have been taken on the assembly line, at the Changchun factory, and while it’s too early to speak about the possible engine lineup, local media reports that it should include the 2.0-liter turbo petrol, in two states of tune. Base variants of the CC Travel Edition will come with 186 PS (184 hp / 137 kW) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque, while the more powerful 220 PS (217 hp / 162 kW) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft), paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, might power the upper spec. An all-wheel drive system will likely be available.
It remains to be seen if the Arteon Shooting Brake has been developed specifically for the People’s Republic, or if VW will offer it in other markets as well – fingers crossed.