VW has announced that a brand new variant of their
Atlas SUV will be unveiled at the 2018 NY Auto Show, based on the MQB platform
but featuring 5 instead of 7 seats. We also know
that VW previously trademarked the names Atlas Allsport and Cross Sport, so
this new car could very well adopt one of the two monikers.
While we don’t have much to go on when it comes to
its styling, a Coupe-like rear end
might be in play judging from that sloping roof design and relatively short
C-Pillar. As for the front end design, it seems very aggressive compared to
what we get with the 7-seat Atlas, almost a mixture between the latter and the
Arteon.
VW will invest some US$ 340 million in order to launch
the new 5-seater Atlas, in addition to the US$ 900 million it already invested in
order to prep the Chattanooga plant for the arrival of the regular, 7-seat
model. The new 5-seat Atlas will be VW’s third model assembled there, along
with the original Atlas and the Passat.
