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Last year, the Volkswagen Touareg left the US market to be replaced by the enormous Atlas, a bigger, cheaper SUV more in tune with American tastes. Though it looks unlikely that the Atlas will make it to Europe, Volkswagen obviously believes that the single model has the potential to expand into a multi-model range, judging by the two "near production" concepts unveiled at the New York International Auto Show today.
The Atlas Cross Sport, set to be a plug-in hybrid, is a handsome, sportier, five-seat take on the Atlas platform with a tougher stance, "coupé" roofline and sharply raked C-pillars. Unlike the front of the standard Atlas, the grille is a two-bar affair incorporating the LED headlights and daytime running lamps. The rear gets aluminium accents (including oversized exhaust surrounds) and LED tail lights.
Underneath is an advanced hybrid drivetrain with a 3.6-litre V6 and a pair of electric motors front and rear (powered by an 18kWh battery located in vehicle's centre tunnel) developing 54hp and 114hp respectively. In total between the motors and the engine, that's 355hp meaning the Cross Sport is no slouch, with 0-100km/h achievable in just over five and a half seconds. Power delivery is endlessly adjustable depending on load, conditions or driver preference as the car can be driven in any of five modes including the all-electric "E-Mode" setting which offers a 42km range, "Off-Road" mode which is exactly what it sounds like and the enticing "GTE" mode which sharpens up the throttle mapping, gearchanges and steering.
Volkswagen also gave us a look at the Atlas Tanoak concept, a dual-cab, short-bed pickup based on the same mechanicals and architecture as the Sport Cross. Like the Sport Cross, it's a five-seater but has two inches of extra ground-clearance over the standard Atlas. The flatbed is apparently designed to carry all those things that Americans seem to carry and we don't, like surfboards, ATVs and dirt-bikes. As it's a pickup, there'll be none of that lefty hybrid stuff and the Tanoak has a 3.6-litre, 276hp V6 using Volkswagen's 4Motion system to send the power to the four wheels. There's lots of rugged additions like tough underbody protection, a winch and strong towing hooks. Parts of the interior, for example the gearstick, have been designed to be operated by drivers wearing gloves.
Like the new Jetta, as the standard Atlas isn't sold in Europe it's doubtful that its derivatives will be either.