Volkswagen has revealed its all-new Arteon fastback – a car body style whose roofline slopes continuously down at the back – at the Geneva motor show.

Set to take on the likes of the Audi A5 when it arrives in the UK later this year, the fastback – described by Volkswagen as an “avant-garde gran turismo” – is positioned above the Passat in the firm’s model range.

The model is launching with six engines – three petrol and three diesel – with the diesel variants based on the company’s 2.0-litre unit with different three power outputs: 150hp, 190hp and 240hp.

The base petrol unit is VW’s new 1.5-litre engine which produces 150hp.

As standard, the 190hp-and-above petrol engines are fitted with the company’s dual-clutch automatic transmission, as is the most powerful diesel unit, however, it is available as an option for the rest of the range, where a manual transmission is offered.

The most powerful engines are also mated to a four-wheel drive system.

Luggage space, meanwhile, is rated at 563 litres with the rear seats down and 1,567 with the rear seats up.

The Arteon brings a revised version of VW’s Emergency Assist system, which can now autonomously change lanes before stopping in order to avoid a collision when it detects the driver is not in control of the vehicle.

Previously, the system would just stop the vehicle.

Three trim levels are offered: the base model, Elegance and R-Line. As standard the model is equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, an infotainment system which is compatible with Apple CarPlay, the driver alert system mentioned above, and steering assistance.

Elegance, meanwhile, adds larger 18-inch alloys, an individualised trim for the instruments, dashboard and door panels, Alcantara seat covers and front seat heating.

The range-topping R-Line model, meanwhile, features different bumpers to the rest of the range, black front-air intakes, different alloy wheels to the rest of the range, and R-Line logos on the seat covers.

“In contrast to classic saloons, the fastback offers more space and flexibility thanks to its long wheelbase, coupe-like fastback design and large rear hatch,” said Tobias Suhlmann, exterior designer of the model.