Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Concept previews five-seat SUV at New York
Volkswagen introduced the Atlas Cross Sport Concept at the 2018 New York Auto Show, signalling a production-bound, five-seat SUV with a plug-in hybrid powertrain and US manufacturing plans.
Volkswagen used the 2018 New York Auto Show to unveil the Atlas Cross Sport Concept, a near-production preview of its forthcoming five-seat SUV for the US market. The concept signalled Volkswagen’s intent to expand the Atlas range beyond the existing seven-seat model, with production confirmed for the Chattanooga, Tennessee plant from 2019.
Atlas Cross Sport Concept: design and dimensions
The Atlas Cross Sport Concept sits on Volkswagen’s MQB modular architecture, sharing its wheelbase with the standard Atlas but adopting a shorter, lower and narrower body. The five-seat layout positions it as a direct rival to mid-size SUVs such as the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano, slotting between the three-row Atlas and the smaller Tiguan in Volkswagen’s US line-up.
Volkswagen’s show car emphasised a more dynamic stance, with short overhangs and a more aggressive roofline than the seven-seat Atlas. The concept’s exterior closely previewed the production model’s styling, with only minor changes expected for the showroom version, according to Volkswagen North America CEO Hinrich Woebcken at the time.
Plug-in hybrid powertrain details
The Atlas Cross Sport Concept featured a plug-in hybrid system pairing Volkswagen’s 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine with two electric motors. The front motor delivered 54 hp and 162 lb-ft, while the rear provided 114 hp and 199 lb-ft. Combined, the system was rated at 355 hp. An 18 kWh lithium-ion battery under the floor enabled a claimed 26 miles of electric-only driving. Volkswagen quoted a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds for the concept.
The plug-in hybrid system previewed Volkswagen’s electrification strategy for its US SUV line-up. The concept’s powertrain was not confirmed for production in this exact form, but Volkswagen indicated that electrified variants would play a role in the Atlas Cross Sport’s future.
Position in Volkswagen’s US range
With its five-seat configuration and sportier proportions, the Atlas Cross Sport Concept was aimed at buyers who found the full-size Atlas too large but wanted more space than the Tiguan offered. Volkswagen’s strategy in 2018 focused on broadening its SUV range for the US, a market where the brand was seeking to grow after years of underperformance against rivals.
Production of the Atlas Cross Sport was set to begin in 2019, with the model expected to retain the core design and much of the technology previewed by the concept. The move was part of a wider push by Volkswagen to localise manufacturing and adapt its line-up to US tastes.
Concept’s US-market rivals
- Ford Edge
- Nissan Murano
- Honda Passport
- Chevrolet Blazer
