Volkswagen has published three design
sketches previewing the updated 2021 Atlas. The German car manufacturer’s big
SUV is selling well in the United States, and for the 2021 model year will be
three inches longer due to the presence of a new bumper designed for improved
pedestrian safety. Alongside extending the front bumper outwards, Volkswagen
has overhauled the SUV’s front fascia to make it sportier and reminiscent of
the current Atlas Cross Sport.
Most notably, the chunky headlights of
the current Atlas have been ditched in favor of slimmer LED units with LED
daytime running lights that are neatly incorporated and line-up perfectly with
the revised grille. At the rear, the styling modifications are less obvious and
appear limited to a revised chrome accent connecting the taillights and a new
reflector running across the width of the bumper.
No interior images or sketches of the
new Atlas have been released just yet, but Autoblog says it will sport a new
leather steering wheel with a flat bottom and all variants, bar the base
version, will feature an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen. Other changes
include some added stitching throughout the cabin, wireless phone charging and
updated driving technologies including Dynamic Road Sign Detection and Traffic
Jam Assist.
No alterations will be made to the
engine line-up. Consequently, the 2021 Atlas will be available with a 2.0-liter
turbocharged four-cylinder putting out 235 hp and 349 Nm and a
3.6-liter V6 with 276 hp and 360 Nm. Volkswagen is expected to unveil the
2021 Atlas at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show and should kick off sales in May next
year.
