Product attributes
Developed mainly for the North American and Chinese market, the vehicle is based on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform. Outside the North American market, the vehicle is marketed as the Volkswagen Teramont. It is positioned above the long-wheelbase Tiguan and below the smaller but upscale Touareg.
Overview
The Atlas is marketed as the Teramont outside North America and Chile, including the Middle East (except Israel, where it's sold as the Atlas), Africa, as well as in Mexico, Russia, Colombia and China, where production in Ningbo began in 2017. For markets outside China, the Atlas/Teramont is produced in the Chattanooga plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States.
The vehicle features a transverse mounted four-cylinder or Volkswagen's narrow angle VR6. Up to the introduction of the China-only Talagon, the Atlas is the largest vehicle produced on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform.
Markets
North America (Atlas)
The CrossBlue previewed the Atlas/Teramont as a concept diesel plug-in-hybrid mid-size crossover SUV in September 2013. The Atlas was introduced at the LA Auto Show in Los Angeles on November 17, 2016. The name Atlas was picked for the region after the proposed Teramont name was rejected by dealers. It went on sale in the United States and Canada in May 2017 as a 2018 model year.
Features included in the Atlas are the VW Digital Cockpit, up to 96.8 cubic feet (2.74 m3) of rear cargo space, seventeen total cup holders, a second row bench seat with room for three child safety seats or optional second row captains chairs with room for two child safety seats, a third row seating area that can be accessed with child safety seats still in place, standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity with Volkswagen CarNet and MirrorLink, seven total stability enhancing systems, and available Volkswagen 4Motion four wheel drive system on most models.
China (Teramont)
In China, the Teramont was unveiled at the 2016 Guangzhou Auto Show. The Teramont is made in China by the SAIC-Volkswagen joint venture for the Chinese market. The Volkswagen Teramont is available with an 186 hp (189 PS; 139 kW) 2.0-liter TSI, a 220 hp (223 PS; 164 kW) 2.0-liter TSI, or with a 299 hp (303 PS; 223 kW) 2.5-liter VR6. All variants are paired to a 7-speed DSG with the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. The 2.0-liter engines are locally manufactured in China, while the VR6 engine is manufactured in Germany and shipped over to the factory in Shanghai. It was developed specifically for the Chinese market where engines above 3.0 liters are subject to heavy excise tax.
North America (Atlas Cross Sport)
he Atlas Cross Sport debuted in North America in early 2020, as a new model for the 2020 model year. Available engines are the same as the original Atlas: a turbocharged four-cylinder and a VR6. The Atlas Cross Sport is offered in S, SE, SEL, SEL R-Line, SEL Premium, and SEL Premium R-Line trims. The Cross Sport was previewed by the concept CrossBlue Coupe in September 2013. This Atlas Cross Sport, known in Mexico as the Teramont Cross Sport, was introduced for the Mexican market on December 1, 2020, alongside the facelifted Teramont. It is only sold in the Highline trim level and it is equipped with the R-Line aerodynamic kit.
