Volkswagen has unveiled its new Atlas Cross Sport concept at the New York International Auto Show, billing the show car as a “near-production” model with a coupé-like profile.
The new Atlas Cross Sport concept is essentially a five-seat version of the standard, MQB-based seven-seater Atlas. The production version is scheduled to be launched in the United States in 2019, and will be built alongside the Atlas and Passat in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The concept vehicle measures 4 846 mm long, 1 735 mm tall and 2 029 mm wide. The grille features two bars instead of the three on the seven-seater Atlas, while the grille crossbars themselves are illuminated, doubling as LED daytime running lights. The show car runs on 22-inch alloys wrapped in 285/40 tyres.
Inside, you’ll find a 10,1-inch touchscreen with proximity sensors and gesture control, along with a 12,3-inch digital cockpit (with a resolution of 1 440 x 540 pixels).
The six-speed DSG transmission has shift-by-wire functionality, while the 4Motion Active Control offers on-road, off-road, sport and snow driving profiles. Volkswagen says the concept’s MQB platform means it can be built with “all manner of drive systems”, including a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The Atlas Cross Sport concept uses the same 3,6-litre V6 engine as the Atlas, but boosted by two electric motors. Energy for the motors is supplied by an 18,0 kWh lithium-ion battery housed in the centre tunnel. The drive system’s total power amounts to 265 kW, which VW says should be enough for a circa-5,5-second sprint to 100 km/h.
Volkswagen adds that the Atlas Cross Sport concept could also feature a mild hybrid powertrain. Using the same V6 engine and electric motors, but with a smaller 2,0 kWh battery, the mild hybrid version would produce around 230 kW.
