March 22nd 2018
Volkswagen in an announcement on Monday confirmed the initiation of a project under which they will build a new SUV. The Volkswagen 5-passenger SUV takes its inspiration from the Atlas and will be designed and manufactured in the company’s Tennessee factory in USA.
The company’s press release states that the brand-new SUV will be a smaller variant of the Atlas, accommodating 7 passengers. However, VW shared no information on the SUV’s name, whether it will be called an Atlas or something else, enthusiasts have to wait and see until its debut at the 2018 New York International Auto Show, next week.
The smaller SUV which will be based on the MQB platform shall lock horns with fierce competitors in the US market like the Ford Edge, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, Nissan Murano and Toyota Highlander among others. The MQB platform incorporates a front wheel drive system with an optional all-wheel drive.
Some idea of the engine specs and price can be taken from the current Atlas, which comes in two options, a 2.0-liter turbo-4 producing 238 horsepower and a 3.6-liter V6 capable of making 280 hp, with the base model starting at $31,000.