2017 NAIAS: 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Volkswagen is focusing its efforts to restore brand credibility in what executives refer to as the “diesel crisis” and launched a three way assault at NAIAS to due so. This included the rollout of the Atlas and Tiguan production crossovers along with the retro electric van Buzz concept. The Atlas would make one shrug since it isn’t anything new to the marketplace, except that it is a new product that VW has never offered stateside before; a midsize 3-row crossover. VW executives admitted that one thing that has held back its popularity in the U.S. is the brand’s premium pricing on mainstream products. To remedy this, VW promised that the Atlas would start at $30,000 and top out around $48,000. One novel feature is the ability to tilt and slide the 2nd row of seats while a car seat is installed in order to gain access to the 3rd row. No diesels in this crossover, but a 3.6L V6 with 276 horsepower gets the propulsion done. The Atlas spans 198.3 inches, swallows 96.8 cubic feet of cargo, and seats seven. That’s a formula that normally plays well in Peoria. Now to see if Americans take notice.
