VW Has Cooked Up A 483bhp Arteon Time Attack Car

We’ve long thought that the Arteon is crying out for a hot ‘R’ version. VW did tell CT last year that a VR6-engined Arteon R prototype had been built, although we can’t be sure if the project ever progressed from that point.

However, what VW Australia has just come up with acts as a nice preview for what we hopefully will see one day. It’s a race-spec Arteon, built by VW apprentices to take on this weekend’s World Time Attack Challenge in Sydney.

The ‘ART3on’ doesn’t - I’m afraid - use a six-cylinder engine, but it’s certainly not lacking in poke. The 2.0-litre TFSI engine now packs a bunch of goodies from VW tuners RacingLine, including a stage 3 turbocharger, a new air intake system, a better intercooler, and a new high-pressure fuel pump. Now, it produces 493bhp and 442lb ft of torque, making 0-62mph possible in 3.9 seconds.

The car’s also packing Bilstein dampers, bigger brakes, and super-sticky Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tyres. Finally, it has all the necessary motorsport-ready safety additions, including a full roll cage, bucket seats with harnesses, a fuel cut-off switch and a fire extinguisher.

The car will take to Sydney Motorsport Park over the weekend with Renato Loberto on driving duties.