The Volkswagen CC’s stylized sweeping roofline, dramatic body detailing, low-to-the-ground stance, and elegant frameless side windows, offers expressive, head-turning coupe-like design that is usually seen only in premium, high-priced European cars for the cost of a traditional sedan.
New for 2017
The CC 2.0T R-Line Executive comes standard with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Adaptive Cruise Control, while the 2.0T Sport trim gains interior enhancements, such as standard engineered ebony trim and chrome elements. Trend, R-Line 2.0T, and V6 Executive trims are deleted from the lineup.
Exterior
At the front of the car, one’s eye is drawn to the CC’s grille, Bi-Xenon headlights, and hood design, which correspond closely to the clean lines of Volkswagen’s “design DNA”—with an emphasis on horizontal lines and precise harmony between the headlights and grille. Like the Passat, the CC has an extra air intake in the lower section of the bumper. The foglights are housed inside “winglets” that are integrated in this intake.
Available LED Daytime Running Lights, included on Sport and higher trims, are integrated in the headlight design and the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS)—which can turn the beams by up to 15 degrees around corners to help increase visibility—is also featured.
At the rear, the CC’s distinctive LED taillights finish with a horizontal sweep at their lower ends. The distinctive look of these lights makes the CC unmistakable from the rear, day or night. The license plate is illuminated with LED lighting as well.
Compared with the Sport model, the R-Line Executive gains a more aggressive front bumper design that incorporates a large lower air intake. Side skirts and the R-Line logo on the grille further differentiate it from the Sport model, along with unique and dramatic 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.
Interior
The CC’s cabin is as stylish and design-led as its bold exterior. Each CC model features a blend of luxurious materials, rich textures, and intuitive controls. Standard V-Tex leatherette or available leather seating surfaces are offered and are available in both solid and two-tone color schemes. The front seats are heatable and come with standard 12-way power adjustment, including four-way power lumbar and adjustment for height.
Up front, a leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel features integrated controls for the CC’s multimedia system. The gauges are surrounded by chrome trim and the dashboard features engineered ebony trim. The R-Line features stainless-steel “R-Line” scuff plates and sports paddle shifters on its multifunction steering wheel.
All 2017 CC models feature the Climatronic® automatic climate control system. The system features a humidity sensor located near the rear-view mirror, which measures humidity and controls the Climatronic system to help prevent condensation and maintain the relative humidity in the passenger compartment at the selected level. Another benefit of the system is that the humidity sensor permits operation of the air conditioning compressor only when needed.
To add to the versatility and flexibility of the CC, the rear seatback is split 60/40 and folds forward to connect the trunk to the cabin to increase load space. There’s also a pass-through behind the armrest to help accommodate longer items, such as skis. Another interior feature is remote latching for the rear seatback. Levers mounted under the rear shelf on the right and left sides of the trunk make it easy to unlatch both sections of the split seatback. The trunk itself has a capacity of 13.2 cubic feet.
One of the most technologically advanced features in the CC comes in the form of its MIB II touchscreen infotainment system. The infotainment system offers one of the most comprehensive suites of connected vehicle services and features available in the automotive industry today. Features available through the VW Car-Net suite are divided into three key areas: App-Connect, Security & Service, and Guide & Inform.
The state-of-the-art Discover Media unit is standard across all trims. Featuring an 800×480 capacitive color touch display with proximity sensor with a 6.3-inch screen, features include AUX-in, SD card slots, and a USB multimedia interface for compatible Apple iPhone® and iPod® devices. The 2.5D Navigation has one-shot voice destination entry, predicts possible destinations based on often used routes, and uses Destination Entry with Quick Search and Auto-complete. Other elements of the infotainment system include: Car-Net Guide & Inform; reverse camera display; Bluetooth® technology with the ability to send and receive SMS text messages with compatible phones and sync two phones simultaneously; App-Connect compatible smartphone integration; a JPEG viewer; a SiriusXM® Satellite Radio three- month trial; HD Radio; and support for lossless audio file format (Free Lossless Audio Codec FLAC).
Security & Service. With the Car-Net Security & Service suite, owners can access their VW remotely through vw.com/carnet as well as a smartphone app, providing access to the features available from virtually anywhere your mobile device is connected to wireless internet.
Available security related features include Automatic Crash Notification, which can automatically notify an operator who can contact first responders in the event of an collision; Manual Emergency Call, a feature that allows for quick access to customer specialists at the touch of a button; Roadside Assistance, for added peace-of-mind in the event of trouble on the road; and Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, which uses VW Car-Net Security & Service to assist law enforcement with locating your vehicle in the event that it is stolen.
In addition, Volkswagen Car-Net Security & Service offers layers of convenience, such as remote vehicle access, remote door lock and unlock, remote honk and flash (of lights), last parked location information, and remote status check (doors and windows).
The Car-Net Security & Service also offers Family Guardian, a suite of features that help families. Features including speed alert, which can notify the owner of the vehicle when the preset maximum speed limit is exceeded; and boundary alert, which can alert you if the vehicle has traveled outside of a pre-set virtual boundary.
Diagnostics and maintenance information is also available through VW Car-Net. A Vehicle Health Report allows Volkswagen customers to check to see an overview of vehicle diagnostics. When it’s time for scheduled service, Car-Net Security & Service can not only alert the customer, but also provide a simple way to schedule a dealer visit. It can even identify the closest dealer in case you need a recommendation.
Customers purchasing new Volkswagen models equipped with Volkswagen Car-Net Security & Service connected vehicle services (not including App-Connect) will receive a no-charge trial for six months after purchase. To extend the benefits of this connectivity system, customers can choose from a number of Volkswagen Car-Net payment options: 1 year, for $199; 2 years for $378; 3 years for $540; or, month-to-month, for $17.99.
Guide & Inform. Car-Net Guide & Inform offers an enhanced navigation and infotainment experience for Volkswagen drivers. Volkswagen has incorporated technologies that enhance existing navigation offerings while adding an additional level of information that can empower owners.
Satellite navigation is refined with Car-Net Guide & Inform, incorporating several layers of information right onto the infotainment screen. Every CC features fuel prices, sports scores, movie information and weather data as part of the three-month SiriusXM Travel Link trial. Volkswagen customers will also enjoy traffic information and a complimentary four-year SiriusXM Traffic trial.
Powertrain
The CC features the award-winning, 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected TSI® four-cylinder engine that generates 200 horsepower on premium gasoline. Driving the front wheels, the 2.0-liter engine is mated to a six-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmission. The six-speed transversely-mounted DSG unit features two wet clutches with hydraulic pressure regulation. One clutch controls the ‘odd’ gears—first, third, fifth, and reverse—while the other operates the even gears. With DSG, the setup allows the next-higher gear to be engaged, but remain on standby until it is actually selected. In other words, if the CC is being driven in third gear, fourth is selected but not yet activated. As soon as the ideal shift point is reached, the clutch on the third-gear side opens, the other clutch closes and fourth gear engages under accurate electronic supervision.
Since the opening and closing actions of the two clutches overlap, a smooth gearshift results and the entire shift process can be completed in less than four-hundredths of a second. In addition to its fully automatic shift mode, DSG has a Tiptronic® function to permit manual gear selection. Mated to the DSG automatic transmission, the 2.0T achieves EPA estimated fuel economy of 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway.
Chassis
All CC models are equipped with a sport-tuned suspension to satisfy the driver looking for lively, involving handling coupled with a smooth, comfortable ride for daily driving.
Up front, there’s a strut-type suspension with coil springs and telescopic dampers, low-mounted lightweight forged-aluminum control arms, and an anti-roll bar. At the rear, the CC has a compact multilink coil-sprung suspension with upper and lower transverse arms and a longitudinal link on each side to control wheel location. It’s a sophisticated arrangement that helps deliver controllable, dynamic handling with a comfortable ride and reduced body roll.
The rear suspension components are mounted in a subframe made of high-tensile steel to help reduce weight and increase rigidity. The subframe is also acoustically decoupled from CC’s bodyshell to aid in significantly lessening road noise and vibration.
An electro-mechanical, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system with variable speed assistance helps ensure driver confidence. Advantages of the system include its mild self-centering action and its ability to help compensate for different driving hazards such as crosswinds and steep road cambers as it dispenses with the usual engine-driven pump.
Braking is controlled by the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with a special wiping feature that helps keep the discs dry and clean for quicker response on wet roads. The 2.0T models are fitted with 12.3-inch vented discs up front, and solid 11.1-inch rotors for the rear.
Safety
Safety and security in the CC starts with a strong, rigid, laser-seam-welded bodyshell and crash-optimized, energy-absorbing front end. For those inside, there’s the protection of a suite of airbags that includes front and side thorax airbags from the driver and front seat passenger, and Side Curtain Protection® head airbags for those in both the front and rear seats. Three-point safety belts have belt-force limiters for all the seats.
The CC also features front head restraints that adjust fore-and-aft as well as up-and-down. In this design, the head restraint can be pulled forward and, because it lies closer to the head, further helps reduce the risk of whiplash in a crash.
A number of aids and enhancements work seamlessly with the CC’s drivetrain and suspension to help get the car and its occupants to their destination safely. They include Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), and Engine Braking Assist (EBA).
The CC also includes Volkswagen’s Intelligent Crash Response System that can shut off the fuel pump, unlock the doors, and switch on the hazard lights if the car is involved in certain types of collisions.
Driver Assistance Systems
The R-line Executive model receives Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist) and Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist).
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) uses forward facing radar to help maintain a set speed while helping maintain a set distance to the vehicle in front. The driver sets the speed and the desired spacing via buttons on the multifunction steering wheel and can use the accelerator, brake pedal, or steering wheel to cancel or override the ACC function. All system messages appear in the central multifunction display.
When the roadway ahead of the vehicle is clear, the system can maintain the set speed. CC models fitted with ACC can match a vehicle in front and come to a stop, as well as resume ACC control after the driver presses the accelerator pedal or the “resume” button on the steering wheel.
The Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist) system helps warn the driver of critical front-end collision situations, both acoustically and visually by a warning symbol in the instrument cluster, and, if necessary, Autonomous Emergency Braking is activated to slow the vehicle if the driver fails to brake. If the brake pedal is applied but the driver brakes too lightly, the brake pressure is increased by the system.
Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist) actively helps countersteer to keep the vehicle in the lane above 40 mph, if there is an indication that the vehicle is unintentionally straying from its lane. The system’s camera recognizes visible lane markings (one side suffices) and, using a special algorithm, calculates the risk of the car leaving the lane. If the driver takes their hands off the wheel for a defined period of time, or the vehicle crosses a lane marking without use of a turn signal, the system countersteers and then provides an audible warning and a visual signal in the instrument cluster, asking the driver to take over.
The system works in the dark and/or in fog, but will not engage if it cannot properly detect lane markings. If the turn signal has been set before crossing a lane marking, the Lane Departure Warning system will not engage or give a warning. The driver can “override” the system at any time by applying minimal force, and is not relieved of responsibility to make conscious driving decisions.
Limited Warranty
The 2017 CC is offered with Volkswagen’s five-year/60,000-mile (whichever occurs first) powertrain limited warranty and three-year/36,000-mile (whichever occurs first) new vehicle limited warranty.
Model Line-up
2.0T Sport
- $34,475 MSRP (plus $865 destination) with automatic transmission
2.0T R-Line Executive
- $37,820 MSRP (plus $865 destination) with automatic transmission
2.0T R-Line Executive w/ Carbon
- $37,820 MSRP (plus $865 destination) with automatic transmission