Earlier this year, reports surfaced that Volkswagen planned to name its new 2017 seven-seater crossover the “Teramont”. But that hasn’t turned out to be the case, according to a German affiliate of Automotive News. At least not for the US market, anyway.
Yes, Automobilwoche reports that the new Tennessee-built crossover will instead be called the “Atlas”.
The production version of the CrossBlue concept pictured above is expected to be fully revealed late in October in California, presumably along with the new Atlas moniker.
Automobilwoche says that the German automaker filed an application to trademark the badge in the United States back in April. Interestingly, however, the Teramont name has also been trademarked (perhaps for use in markets outside the North America).
Back in July, Hinrich Woebcken, CEO of Volkswagen North America, told Automotive News that the three-row crossover would have a “bullish, much easier-to-pronounce, American-style name”.
Woebcken also hinted that the US-specific name would probably not start with a “T”, like its Tiguan and Touareg crossover siblings.
As things stand, this new SUV has been confirmed for left-hand drive production only, with North America and China being the first intended markets (and sites of production).
