VW Confirms New Atlas 5-Seater Derivative Will Have A Coupe-Like Roofline

Volkswagen has revealed more details about the second derivative of the Atlas, which will be offered with five seats instead of seven and a coupe-like profile.

The vehicle is in near-production form and will be presented at the 2018 New York Auto Show, next week, as the company announced yesterday.

Part of VW’s ‘Transform 2025+’ strategy, which focuses on SUVs as these are seen as “an important growth driver” for the brand, this version of the Atlas will be put together at the Chattanooga plant, in Tennessee, just like the regular model and US-spec Passat.

“The Atlas is providing a strong impetus to Volkswagen, and we are very pleased to add this new five-seat SUV, produced in Chattanooga, to our SUV lineup“, said Volkswagen of America’s President and CEO, Hinrich J. Woebcken.

Based on the MQB platform, the Atlas Coupe (name unconfirmed) is described as combining “powerful proportions with a confident presence”. The SUV “will also be a very attractive product for customers”, VW believes, and will be powered by “advanced engines”, connected to “an 8-speed automatic transmission”, according to the manufacturer.

It will (likely) share the units with the seven-seat Atlas, which uses a turbocharged 235hp 2.0-liter and a 276hp 3.6-liter V6. All-wheel drive will be part of the package, and so will a “comfortable suspension” and different driving assistance gizmos. Lane Assist, Park Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, Automatic Post-Collision Braking, Front Assist, Active Info Display and adaptive cruise control are mentioned in the release.

Volkswagen didn’t say when production of the five-seat Atlas will commence, but in all likelihood, it should go on sale next year. It should be a more affordable alternative to the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe. The former starts from $62,950 in the USA and the latter can be had in ’43’ guise from $70,500.