Volkswagen is about to ignite the next stage of its global Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) strategy. After recently showing the new Touareg in Europe and China, Volkswagen is now debuting a new version of the Atlas at the New York International Auto Show, the Atlas Cross Sport concept. The new Atlas Cross Sport concept is a five-seat version of the midsize SUV that went on sale in the U.S.A in 2017 as a seven-seater.

The near-production concept car features a coupe-like profile, an even sportier stance, and a plug-in hybrid drivetrain with 350bhp and an anticipated 42km of all-electric range. A conventional mild hybrid version of the same powertrain would make 306bhp. The actual production vehicle is scheduled to be launched in the U.S.A market starting in 2019, and will be built alongside the seven-passenger Atlas and the Passat sedan in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

An innovative range of SUVs is an important element in Volkswagen's growth strategy for the U.S.A market, alongside new products such as the 2019 Jetta. The latest sales figures show the importance of the new SUV models: In February, 54 percent of Volkswagen's American customers chose a Tiguan or an Atlas. Volkswagen of America will further increase the market share of its SUV fleet with new models such as the production version of the Atlas Cross Sport concept and the all-electric I.D. Crozz that has been announced for 2020.