VW Atlas (large crossover)

[ifcar]

VW's new three-row Pilot-sized crossover: http://www.autoblog.com/2016/10/27/2018-volkswagen-atlas-crossover-details/








Late to the market, obviously, but I think they did a good job with the looks inside and out.

[CaminoRacer]

Does it have a diesel option?

[93JC]

Too little, too late.

[Soup DeVille]

Agreed. Coming to the party now, one is required to bring something not already at the bar.

[shp4man]

Damn. the world is changing. I sense a trend here that the Germans are trying to break into the American truck market. The Japanese tried,  and achieved only limited success.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I will expect a V12 diesel option.

[68_427]

As we speak Jeep designers just starting hitting the Grand Wagoneer clay model with axes and starting over.

[68_427]

God that's bland.  It looks super Chery (or any other 3rd world Chinese brand)

In this segment give me the new Acadia all day every day

[giant_mtb]

Sometimes, I prefer bland to needless styling cues.  Like 6' long headlights.  And windows curving up for no reason.  Bleh.

Both are good-looking vehicles, but there will always be a place for "bland" designs, IMO.  Some will like them, others won't.

[68_427]

I have a hunch it'll look pretty ungainly in person, considering it's the size of an Explorer. 

[Payman]

Damn. the world is changing. I sense a trend here that the Germans are trying to break into the American truck market. The Japanese tried,  and achieved only limited success.

Haven't they offered the Toureg here for like a decade now?

Speaking of which, does this slot between the Tiguan and Toureg? Or is this considered a crossover and not an SUV? (Like there's a difference anymore?)

[Galaxy]

Sometimes, I prefer bland to needless styling cues.

I would agree, however this arguably has needless styling cues, with regard to the line going over the wheel arches.


The concept did this much better imo.

[FoMoJo]

[ifcar]

Agreed. Coming to the party now, one is required to bring something not already at the bar.

I don't agree; it just requires doing something well, not forcing uniqueness. Look at Nissan's best-selling vehicle, the Rogue -- it was years late to the market, but no one cares as long as it was executed satisfactorily. There just isn't a quota system that declares "sorry, we already have enough cars like this, no more new ones."

[2o6]

Damn. the world is changing. I sense a trend here that the Germans are trying to break into the American truck market. The Japanese tried,  and achieved only limited success.

....the Pilot and Highlander are top sales in their segment.

I don't agree; it just requires doing something well, not forcing uniqueness. Look at Nissan's best-selling vehicle, the Rogue -- it was years late to the market, but no one cares as long as it was executed satisfactorily. There just isn't a quota system that declares "sorry, we already have enough cars like this, no more new ones."

I feel like the Rogue (and other Nissan models) are primarily because of easier credit and financing options. I know many Nissan dealers that are willing to work with people over a Ford or Honda.

[shp4man]

....the Pilot and Highlander are top sales in their segment.



I feel like the Rogue (and other Nissan models) are primarily because of easier credit and financing options. I know many Nissan dealers that are willing to work with people over a Ford or Honda.

I was talking about pickups mostly. Rear wheel drive, 1/2 or better ton cargo rating, at least a 6 ft bed.

[93JC]

I feel like the Rogue (and other Nissan models) are primarily because of easier credit and financing options. I know many Nissan dealers that are willing to work with people over a Ford or Honda.

... let alone a VW. VW's are expensive and unreliable: why would I buy this new Atlas when I could get, say, a Highlander? I wouldn't. Most people wouldn't. Most people won't.

[MX793]

....the Pilot and Highlander are top sales in their segment.



I feel like the Rogue (and other Nissan models) are primarily because of easier credit and financing options. I know many Nissan dealers that are willing to work with people over a Ford or Honda.

Does kind of feel like Nissan is becoming the new Mitsubishi.

[2o6]

If I could get a Versa Note with power locks, windows, and cruise (with a manual) I may just have bought one new.

[Soup DeVille]

I don't agree; it just requires doing something well, not forcing uniqueness. Look at Nissan's best-selling vehicle, the Rogue -- it was years late to the market, but no one cares as long as it was executed satisfactorily. There just isn't a quota system that declares "sorry, we already have enough cars like this, no more new ones."

Nissan had been making trucks and SUVS for years and years; good ones that weren't rebadged anything. The Roque was more of a gap filler between existing lines than a foray into a new segment.

[cawimmer430]

It's amazing what color and lighting can do. Bland in the photo above, interesting in the photo below.

Yeah, the Atlas is pretty dull, but at least in that yellow color and with that lighting setup it looks pretty interesting. 

[Soup DeVille]

So, when its backlit, and shot at night using a long exposure time it looks great?

[cawimmer430]

So, when its backlit, and shot at night using a long exposure time it looks great?

It looks "better" if it's shot with backlighting. It's still a dull design, though.

[ifcar]

... let alone a VW. VW's are expensive and unreliable: why would I buy this new Atlas when I could get, say, a Highlander? I wouldn't. Most people wouldn't. Most people won't.

Isn't that what people said to oppose the Americanized Passat, right before sales burst from like 10,000 a year to 100,000?

[ifcar]

Nissan had been making trucks and SUVS for years and years; good ones that weren't rebadged anything. The Roque was more of a gap filler between existing lines than a foray into a new segment.

Nissan had never made a compact crossover in the U.S. The closest thing was an Xterra, which was nothing like a Rogue. The "gap" being filled was only the single fastest-growing market segment. Nissan at the time had one crossover, and it was bigger and significantly more expensive. If size doesn't matter, then Volkswagen's decade-plus of Touaregs and nine years of Tiguans mean there's nothing new about the Atlas.

[93JC]

Wouldn't know, Passat sales are as shitty as they ever were here.

[ifcar]

Wouldn't know, Passat sales are as shitty as they ever were here.

It seems that sales went from 3,000 in 2011 to 8,000 in 2012, enough to overtake the Malibu (5,700), Avenger (4,800), Mazda6 (5,200), and Legacy (2,700). Not everyone has to be No. 1 in volume to be a success, after all. (They've since slipped back down into a smaller niche, following dieselgate.)

[Cookie Monster]

Man, that wheel arch/body line looks terrible.

[Payman]

Man, that wheel arch/body line looks terrible.

Yeah, and that BMW X3 window kick-up at the back. The blue prototype looks much better.

[68_427]

I would agree, however this arguably has needless styling cues, with regard to the line going over the wheel arches.


The concept did this much better imo.

The Seat is closer to the concept