Artega GT in the test

The truth can be bitter - from May 10 to June 4, 2010 the truth will be like a guillotine. The verdict after the first editorial visit of the in pre-production status A rtega GT was devastating. An excerpt from the test notecard from back then: 'Large interior mirror is annoying in the field of vision, dead steering, reverse gear often jumps out, impossible seating position, roof liner loosing at the back, springs too hard, dampers too soft, complicated operation via touchscreen is something for the Chinese. “

Artega GT has matured over the years

The problem child has become a mature personality. With its elegant robe in macadamia brown metallic and the interior in tobacco brown, the Artega GT can easily be seen in a distinguished sports car company à la Goodwood. Not only for optical reasons, the 2012 vintage sets an example in Artega history, which in 2009 was almost a case for the museum. While the investor Tresalia Capital financially saved the delicate little car plant from drying up, ex-Porsche and BMW man Peter Müller has been putting the small-series brand on track since October 2010.

Lightweight construction is not a marketing slogan

The most important thing: In addition to the lines, the quality of the Artega GT is now worthy of a German sports car. In the 2012 model year, the body made of polyurethane is supplemented as standard with a front and tailgate as well as a roof made of carbon material (carbon fiber for an extra charge). An aluminum spaceframe weighing just under 100 kilograms is still sitting underneath. Lightweight construction is therefore not just an empty marketing gossip like some other premium manufacturers: At 1,284 kilos, the current Artega GT is twelve kilos heavier than the Artega GT test car from the 2010 Supertest, but still 101 kilos lighter than a Porsche Cayman R with PDK Transmissions tested in 2011. Respect!

The Artega engineers modified the technically playful interior more comprehensively, the operation of which was previously unavailable to even computer scientists. Biggest change: the new multifunctional unit in the center console. Those who expect high-quality graphics like those from Audi or BMW will continue to be disappointed. So farVolume and fan controls, which are cumbersome to select using touch buttons, are now operated using rotary knobs. Pragmatists also rejoice at the sight of the new, analog instruments for water temperature and fuel gauge. In the Artega GT, the navigation display also migrates from the interior mirror to the infotainment system. As a result, the bulky interior mirror shrank and the field of vision through the windshield is now larger. The previous mirror tended to sag due to its weight due to vibrations.

Test car with 300 hp V6 engine

Enough theory, just put into practice: Boarding the Teutonic Flounder succeeds without a herniated disc and more elegantly than with the British Lotus competition. When choosing a motor, Artega continues to act on a similar principle. A large-scale unit (Lotus: Toyota) should keep costs manageable and ensure quality. The acoustics hardly suggest that the 300-hp V6 sitting across in front of the rear axle in the GT once slaved in the bread-and-butter mobile VW Passat: a crisp intake beat alternates with a gear-changing exhaust fanfare.

The performance of the 2012 model remains at a similarly high level as its predecessor: With Launch Control and powerful pulling power from the lower rev range, the Artega GT sprints to 100 km /h in 4.7 seconds in the test. The VW six-speed DSG works well coordinated, but also a bit Wolfsburg-conservative. Whether in automatic mode or in manual mode - when the engine speed limit is reached, the transmission shifts up autonomously. Black Forest corner junkies and racetrack fans would prefer to move emotionally in the alleys of a manual switch.

Sports suspension for a surcharge, exclusivity as standard

The sports suspension in conjunction with the Conti ForceContact ensures that lateral dynamics are satisfied -Tires. A combination that brought the author to 70th overall in the strong field of participants during the 24-hour Nordschleife race as a driver of the ContiForceTeam in the Artega GT with production tires. In the production model, the almost identical chassis-tire combination starts.

While the Artega GT impresses with sufficient suspension comfort in everyday life, it does its laps in the test in Hockenheim with neutral driving behavior and good traction. Despite the rear-heavy weight distribution, the limit area announces itself noticeably and not suddenly. Only with regard to the smooth power steering do the thoughts of a crisp steering briefly touch Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, otherwise the tester's soul enjoys a refreshing change.

Due to the further increased basic price (79,950 to 88,500 euros), Artega customers should have the small-series status Be sure to continue to be sure - just ask a Porsche driver when he last rolled through a big city without meeting a fellow brand.