Artega GT to get lightweight four-cylinder, sales in the U.S. "a must"
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Artega GT
Production of the Artega GT is set to begin later this month and even though the budget Cayman competitor is limited to 500 units per year at the automaker's current plant, Artega has plans to expand beginning with new variants of the GT.
Within the next two years, Artega will offer a lightweight, four-cylinder version likely to be powered by one of Volkswagen Auto Group's turbocharged 2.0-liter engines, while a soft-top is slated to go on sale sometime in 2010. The current production center can't handle the increased capacity of two additional models, but an Artega exec says that the company owns enough land to build an extension next to the main plant.
Speaking with CAR, Karlheinz Kalbfell said, "Mid-term U.S. sales are a must. But since we need to prepare ourselves well for this important move, late 2010 looks like the earliest possible date." That's about the same time the convertible should be available, and according to Kalbfell, since "roadsters have traditionally always done well in the U.S.", it would be the perfect time to launch the brand in the States. Needless to say, we're looking forward to getting behind the wheel.
Gallery: Artega GT - Intro 2008 Edition
Gallery: Artega GT - Production Version
[Source: CAR]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
homunculus 2:42PM (9/08/2008)
it looks a bit over-designed. like a cayman's botoxed, face-lifted, tarted up cousin.
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TJ 3:10PM (9/08/2008)
Your cataracts must be flaring up again.
dewuser 3:44PM (9/08/2008)
Great design & style for the estimated price just under $100K.
However will the VW power-plant be worth the price?
Only time will tell.
s13hybrid 4:40PM (9/08/2008)
@ homunculus
And the problem is??
Chase 6:28PM (9/08/2008)
dewuser: First off, note that in Europe, the Cayman S costs more than the Artega GT.
Next, consider this weighs almost half as much as the Passat the motor was sourced from. This hits 60 in a claimed 4.2 seconds (Cayman S is claimed 5.1 -- realistically 4.5). Not just that, but this sort of car isn't even about straight line speed. In particular, with its 10" rubber in the rear, Its likely to do 1.2 lateral Gs on stock tires. That's better corning ability than all current Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Porsches aside from the notable race-derived ones that cost a lot.
black 3:04PM (9/08/2008)
I like the design, but how cheap will it be? And it should come with a VR6 option alongside the 2.0T.
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Chase 3:44PM (9/08/2008)
A version with a 300 hp 3.6L VR6 is already in production. It starts at 65k euros and maxes at about 80k. That sounds like a lot, but this has an all-aluminum space frame chassis, making it about 600 lbs less than a Cayman S. The low production volume makes it especially appreciable. -- I haven't seen any road tests of it, but it has the right ingredients to be a terrific car.
I'd go for a 2.0T any day though. 50 hp would be a small sacrifice versus $5,000 and 200 lbs.
bravenrace 3:09PM (9/08/2008)
I like the looks. It says that it's a budget sports car, but what does that mean?????
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Robert112 4:51PM (9/08/2008)
hand crank windows ftw!
Paul M. Watson 3:13PM (9/08/2008)
Better looking than a Cayman, give me an electric one please. ;)
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mr.ed 3:42PM (9/08/2008)
No way this is production, with the bent glass sidelights and weaponized metal hub steering wheel. I do like the early Mazda 626 binnacle switchgear. Look at the details carefully. This isn't near the production version in so many ways.
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ken_aisin 3:55PM (9/08/2008)
This is the car that I've been waiting for. Finally a MR sports car with DSG!!! For an oldie with tendinitis in the let knee, this is a dream come true!! Please bring it to America!!
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Neil 4:51PM (9/08/2008)
Wish this car was the price of a Cayman!
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Quan 6:53PM (9/08/2008)
If it's cheap enough I would love to get a 4 cylinder version of this.
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Randy915 7:48PM (9/08/2008)
Title picture - am I weird to think that the headlamp eyes and gaping mouth deserves an "AHHHHHH!!!!!!!" caption?
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kk 9:42PM (9/08/2008)
Love the exterior.
But who butchered the interior?
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Chase 9:58PM (9/08/2008)
The parent company of Artega is the supplier of most of VW's interior parts. Ironic, eh, that they can get the details right but fail to look at the whole picture?
... Most interestingly, the "Production" one above uses the same steering wheel as the GTI.