STYLISH, sporty and space are the three words that sum up the new Volkswagen Arteon, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and destined for sale around the world.

Bigger by 95mm than the VW Passat, the new 4,862mm Arteon is being built in the German port of Emden so it can be more easily shipped to buyers around the globe.

It sits in size below the Phideon which has been specially developed for China and is not sold in Europe. VW says the Arteon has the best rear passenger legroom in its class.

The Arteon will be available with a choice of six petrol or diesel engines, all with four cylinders and with power outputs ranging from 150 to 280 horsepower.

All of them are 2.0 litres except the entry-level 1.5 litre petrol version. There will be a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox option and VW's 4MOTION all-wheel drive system is fitted to some models.

The car comes packed with technology as standard or an option and in three trim levels; base, Elegance and R-Line.

The range of optional equipment includes features such as a panoramic tilt/slide sunroof, three-zone automatic air conditioning, massage seats in front, heated steering wheel and two-tone nappa leather interior.

The latest generation of adaptive cruise control now takes into account data such as speed limits and route information and automatically adjusts driving speed accordingly.

Thanks to the navigation system's GPS and road data, the new dynamic cornering lights with predictive beam control anticipate when a bend is approaching and illuminate it before the driver actively turns into the bend.

The second generation of emergency assist offers more safety: if the driver becomes incapacitated for health reasons, the system not only slows the car down within system limits, but now also steers it into the slow lane, traffic behind permitting.