Artega GT: Exotic Volkswagen Powered Supercar

Motoring Channel Staff - 7/March/2008

Delbrück, Germany — It's not everyday you come across an exotically-styled sports car that can sprint from zero to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds, uses a Volkswagen twin clutch transmission, and can store more than 1500 MP3s in its head unit.

Launched publicly at the Geneva Motor Show, the Artega GT is not an everyday car. 

It's got a 20Gb hard disk onboard to store all your digital songs, is designed by the same guy who penned some of Aston Martin's most famous cars, and is powered by a Volkswagen V6 engine.

How much would you expect to pay for a lightweight super car that will have all other drivers turning green with envy? $300,000, perhaps $400,000? 

Try A$120,000. 

German sports car maker Artega is selling the featherweight GT from €75,000, which is highly competitive for a niche sports car.

Designed by Henrik Fisker, who has his own 'Fisker' brand of exotic cars (see the Fisker Tramonto here), and who also designed the highly lauded Aston Martin DB9 among others, the Artega GT is a swoopy looking sports car that was first shown at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show.

A year after it's debut in Switzerland 2007, the final production version made its debut at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show and, as planned, an initial build of 500 units will be adhered to.

Unlike previously reported however, the Artega GT has a rear-mounted engine (over or behind the rear axle) as opposed to a mid-mounted engine. This would create a very interesting driving experience, not unlike the Porsche 911 which also features the rear-mount engine setup.

New interior shots also show a very tricky combination speedometer/tachometer gauge, and overall the interior is looking simple yet impressive.

The GT's rivals will be vehicles such as the BMW Z4 M Coupe, the Nissan 350Z, and Lotus Elise.

The design is completely sporty, and communicates the cars intentions clearly. The front end features flowing lines and smooth surfaces with very few angles and the rear is similarly smooth, interrupted by a rear diffuser and twin exhaust pipes (quad exhausts can be optioned).

Production plans for the exciting new low-volume sports car are moving along and Artega's own Klaus Dieter Fers recently revealed that sales will begin mid way through 2008 for around €75,000. 

That's only €5,000 more than the Audi R8, and will be far more exclusive.

Weighing in at 1100kg, the Artega GT isn't the lightest exotic ever built, but it is fast. Accelerating from zero to 100km/h in about 4.9 seconds, the dynamically styled German-made sports car is claimed to be able to reach 270km/h (168mph).

The GT ticks all the right boxes in terms of exotic allure. The 3.6-litre Volkswagen V6 petrol engine currently used in the Porsche Cayenne SUV is located behind the driver in the mid-mounted position, the design is hard to ignore, and the interior features luxury sports seats with a custom-look cabin finish and the impression it makes is significant.

Much of the GT's driveline is Volkswagen sourced, so reliability shouldn't be an issue. The gearbox is also from VW, the most excellent dual shift gearbox (DSG) which allows for automatic shifts that are quicker than a manual. Read the Editor's review of the Golf GTI to get an idea of how the DSG works.

Artega plans an initial production run of 500 GT's, and it'll be interesting to see how the twin clutch DSG (Direktschaltgetriebe in German) works with a rear-wheel drive sports car. Potentially very effectively.

The 6-speed DSG gearbox has also been tweaked to include the 'Artega inverting stage', which is still in development. We're not sure what it does either, but it sounds good.

Built on an aluminium spaceframe, the 1100kg mid-engined sports car generates a respectable 221kW (300hp) @ 6600rpm from its 3.6-litre V6. The car's impressive top speed and acceleration times are possible thanks to the rapid-fire DSG, the light weight, and the FSI engine's torque delivery.  

The Artega-tuned V6 belts out 350Nm @ 2400rpm, which is very low in the rev range, and because it's a naturally aspirated engine response will be sharp.

Handling will also be one of the car's strong suits. It rides low to the ground which will endow it with a low centre of gravity. It sits on large 19-inch wheels (285/35 ZR19 fronts, 285/30 ZR19 rears) with high grip tyres and it is a short car, measuring just 3.95 metres long. It's also low (1.18m) and wide (1.88).

The cut-price German sports car also gets an ESL, or an electronic limited slip diff, to ensure the rear wheels effectively put the power the road, and there's also switchable stability control. All these chassis enhancements, including the aluminium spaceframe, should ensure the 270km/h GT sticks to the road through bends.

Built in Delbrück, Germany, the car also features xenon headlights, twin airbags, a cutting-edge stereo with 20Gb HDD, automatic climate control, and even a two-tone horn.

There has been talk of exports outside of Europe, specifically into Asia (which could include Australia), but this wouldn't happen until 2009/2010.

Taking a leaf from Artega's book, it would be a dream to see a Holden V6-powered lightweight sports car built here in Australia and priced within reach of lowly website staffers....

Related articles:
- Audi R8
- Fisker Tramonto
- Artega Blog (in German)