Volkswagen Will Offer Two-Row Version of Atlas
Smaller long-wheelbase Tiguan is also coming
Volkswagen introduced the three-row Atlas crossover this year to cater to the North American market. Now, it looks like the automaker will add a two-row, five-seat version of the Atlas.
0:00 / 0:00
"We decided the Atlas will get a slightly lower-positioned five-seater, with nice, coupe-ish styling, [but the] same dimensions," Volkswagen Group of America CEO Hinrich Woebcken confirmed toAutomotive News.
A two-row Volkswagen Atlas should help fill the void left by the midsize Touareg. That SUV, which arrived in the U.S. for the 2004 model year, was discontinued here for 2018.
Volkswagen is also changing up the Tiguan line. Recently introduced, the 2018 Tiguan for North America receives a longer wheelbase that helps it grow significantly in size, making it more akin to the likes of a Toyota Highlander than a Toyota RAV4. Now, Woebcken is revealing plans for a smaller Tiguan, although it will still sit on the long wheelbase. And it will offer two rows, not the three that are optionally available on the current Tiguan.
It's unclear when we can expect to see the new versions of the Atlas and Tiguan. But the new vehicles should help Volkswagen cover more ground in the crossover market at a reasonable cost, Woebcken noted.
Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
Read More
