The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, unveiled on the Santa Monica Pier at the end of historic Route 66, launches a new chapter in the company's American history. Engineered from Volkswagen's award-winning Modular Transverse Matrix architecture, the Atlas draws on the latest Volkswagen design DNA to create a bold new look in the SUV segment.

At 5,037mm long, 1,979mm wide, and 1,768mm high, the Atlas is larger than any other Volkswagen on sale in the U.S.A, yet it retains classic proportions and clean lines that create a sense of timelessness and precision. Up front, standard LED head lights and LED daytime running lights combine for a unique visual signature, with optional LED taillights to complete the look.

Inside, the Atlas makes maximum use of its dimensions to offer space for seven adults and their luggage. The third row can be easily reached via an innovative folding seat solution, one that works even with child seats installed in the second row.

Simple, driver-centric displays enhance the feeling behind the wheel while the available Volkswagen Digital Cockpit allows drivers to reconfigure how they view vehicle information.

The available Volkswagen Car-Net system provides a full suite of connected vehicle services, including standard App-Connect technology that offers integration with the three major smartphone platforms - Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink. The vehicle also features an available Fender Premium Audio System that is the most sophisticated yet seen in a Volkswagen.

The Atlas offers available driver assistance features that had been previously been reserved for premium SUVs, at an affordable level. These include: Adaptive Cruise Control; Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert; Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist), which actively helps the driver steer the car back into its lane; and Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist).

Also, the Atlas is the only vehicle in its class to offer the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. This builds on the premise that a collision is rarely a single, instantaneous action, but rather a series of events that follow the initial impact - the most significant of which can cause additional collisions. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System addresses this by applying the brakes when a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus helping reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, the chance of additional damage.

The Atlas arrives with a choice of two powertrains - the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder TSI with 238bhp or the available 3.6-litre VR6 engine with 280bhp. Either engine routes power through an eight-speed transmission to help maximise engine efficiency, and the Atlas can be configured either as front-wheel drive or with available 4Motion all-wheel drive in VR6 trims. The 4Motion system has a Driving Mode Selection feature that allows the driver to select specific parameters based on driving conditions.