When a new car arrives, it's always exciting to see what new technology will appear. In a recent test of the 2019 Volkswagen Arteon, three standout features impressed me the most, though the truth is that the Arteon looks uncannily like the abandoned VW CC. These are lower sedans with a roomy interior. Here are my main takeaways...
1. The hood opens automatically
A perfectly logical automotive trend concerns automated safes. At Arteon, you can walk behind the vehicle with your hands full to carry your groceries or soccer gear, flip your leg behind the vehicle, and the trunk will open. Of course, you must have the key fob in your pocket, which can be embarrassing if someone else is driving and has the key
2. The hood acts as a cushion for pedestrians.
The Arteon's hood technology is strikingly similar to that of the Buick Regal GS. (I recently wrote about it and explained how the technology works.) The idea is that in an accident, if someone is in front of the car, the hood will deploy using pyrotechnics on the hinges to mitigate the fall. This happens in a fraction of a second, but it could save a life.
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(Image credit: Josiah Bondy)
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(Image credit: Josiah Bondy)
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(Image credit: Josiah Bondy)
3. The rear view camera stands out from the logo.
This is a technical marvel. Since most cars use reversing cameras these days, they become standard and even a bit boring. In the Arteon, the camera comes out of the VW logo, which you also enter to open the trunk and shoot. I got to the point of using the rear view camera on cars as much as the rear view mirror and rear view mirrors.
4. You will receive a warning if you leave the sunroof open.
The Arteon continues the trend launched by VW on other models, using the app to warn you of potential disaster. If it's raining in the forecast and you leave the sunroof open, the Car-Net app will warn you of the problem. We'll have to wait for a future model that also allows you to close the sunroof using the app (which will probably require a separate power supply).
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(Image credit: Josiah Bondy)
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(Image credit: Josiah Bondy)
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(Image credit: Josiah Bondy)
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(Image credit: Josiah Bondy)
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(Image credit: Josiah Bondy)
5. The car can park itself
The Arteon has a feature called Parking Assist that allows you to search for a parking spot and then automatically turn the steering wheel to make parking easier. This is convenient for people who aren't good at parallel parking, though I've always found it quicker to park myself. I would like the Arteon sensors to know if the parking spot is big enough for the car.
6. Ambient lighting is actually ambient
I have found with Arteon that you can change the color of the interior and that the tones chosen are surprisingly soft and subtle. Interior lighting is customizable on many other models, especially Ford, but sometimes the colors are a bit harsh or distracting.
Along the way, LaComparacion regularly reviews the futuristic technology of today's hottest cars. John Brandon, a journalist who has written about cars for 12 years, tests out a new car and its advanced technology every week. One goal: to know what new technologies will lead us to fully autonomous cars.