New 2027 VW Atlas

The Phaeton and Touareg we ways for VW to absorb the costs of the Bentley Continental and Porsche Cayenne and it was a genius move that saved both sub-brands.
I disagree - they could have built the platform for Bentley and saved the marketing costs embarrassment and not bothered with the Phaeton. Managements inability to make hard choices.

Maybe they shouldn't have been saved at all, same reason as @BMWTurboDzl said in post #33.

There are too many car companies, its hard to make money without economy of scale. China Subsidizes there industry. We subsidized the then "big 3" during the cold war by paying for part of them building plants all over the country so as to spread the industry out, which helped them directly produce cars more cheaply. I think we will likely see the world returning to subsidies as we deglobalize. Question will be which of their 3 do the Germans want to save?
 
I disagree - they could have built the platform for Bentley and saved the marketing costs embarrassment and not bothered with the Phaeton. Managements inability to make hard choices.

Maybe they shouldn't have been saved at all, same reason as @BMWTurboDzl said in post #33.

There are too many car companies, its hard to make money without economy of scale. China Subsidizes there industry. We subsidized the then "big 3" during the cold war by paying for part of them building plants all over the country so as to spread the industry out, which helped them directly produce cars more cheaply. I think we will likely see the world returning to subsidies as we deglobalize. Question will be which of their 3 do the Germans want to save?
The Phaeton essentially was a Bentley but with VW badges. Iirc mechanically they were identical so the hard costs weren't going to get any worse. The marketing cost probably wasn't that bad but of course there's still the problem of competing with Audi (A8?).

VW group is the largest employer of the Big 3. I don't think they're going anywhere
 
The Phaeton essentially was a Bentley but with VW badges. Iirc mechanically they were identical so the hard costs weren't going to get any worse. The marketing cost probably wasn't that bad but of course there's still the problem of competing with Audi (A8?).
Isn't this the exact same argument as the Atlas. Produce a new model at the absolutely lowest possible cost to VW? Possibly to work out the same?
VW group is the largest employer of the Big 3. I don't think they're going anywhere
Obviously just speculation, but Mercedes produces way more heavy trucks especially globally, and BMW is so much better run and plays much better with the rich get richer crowd so would be least likely to need any help. Would be tough call if the Bundesbank can only choose one.
 
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Isn't this the exact same argument as the Atlas. Produce a new model at the absolutely lowest possible cost to VW? Possibly to work out the same?

Obviously just speculation, but Mercedes produces way more heavy trucks especially globally, and BMW is so much better run and plays much better with the rich get richer crowd so would be least likely to need any help. Would be tough call if the Bundesbank can only choose one.
IJS the phaeton was a one off rather than a change in direction. I don't think VW is trying to position the Atlas as a Q7/Q5 alternative. Not offering hybrid option is just silly but I suspect it's just too expensive.
 
IJS the phaeton was a one off rather than a change in direction. I don't think VW is trying to position the Atlas as a Q7/Q5 alternative. Not offering hybrid option is just silly but I suspect it's just too expensive.
Plug in hybrids have massive defects with connectors / corrosion. Also battery problems.
Much problems with these plug in hybrids. Including almost every brand who sells a plug in hybrid that have a small battery underneath the car.
 
I think VW’s biggest obstacle in the U.S. is that they cannot get out of their own way.

They do not have the same perceived reliability as other mass market brands, but instead of focusing on product where their vehicles are better (driver engagement, ergonomics, gasoline efficiency etc.) they try to compete on grounds where they are not perceived to be as good.

Win over customers based on where you are and objectively build that base into the mainstream.
 
I loved our 2019 Tiguan and admired the size and looks of the Atlas. I do believe that the EA888 is inadequate for the Atlas. A hybrid version of both the Tiguan and Atlas would be beneficial.
 
I loved our 2019 Tiguan and admired the size and looks of the Atlas. I do believe that the EA888 is inadequate for the Atlas. A hybrid version of both the Tiguan and Atlas would be beneficial.


We own a 24’ Atlas with the EA888, 8spd and 4Motion. I wouldn’t say it’s inadequate at all. It’s not “fast” from stop light to stoplight but it’s powerful enough. In fact we rarely get it over 3k RPM in normal driving. It also does very well on the interstates at 85-90mph. It’s extremely stable and handles well at high speed. My wife has a bad habit of running 95-100mph constantly on her work commute up I-71. Luckily she’s an RN and gets “professional courtesy” from Kentuckys finest from time to time.

We’ve been very happy with the performance of ours and it averages 24.6 MPG which I think is pretty decent considering its size and often hauling a Family of 5.
 
Huh
We own a 24’ Atlas with the EA888, 8spd and 4Motion. I wouldn’t say it’s inadequate at all. It’s not “fast” from stop light to stoplight but it’s powerful enough. In fact we rarely get it over 3k RPM in normal driving. It also does very well on the interstates at 85-90mph. It’s extremely stable and handles well at high speed. My wife has a bad habit of running 95-100mph constantly on her work commute up I-71. Luckily she’s an RN and gets “professional courtesy” from Kentuckys finest from time to time.

We’ve been very happy with the performance of ours and it averages 24.6 MPG which I think is pretty decent considering its size and often hauling a Family of 5.
Quoting for emphasis.

It always makes me curious when people says any full size family truckster is “slow.” First of all, almost all modern vehicles are pretty quick and well powered compared to what I grew up with in the 1980s. Secondly, for a car like an Atlas, the real issue is whether you can maintain a comfortable highway pace and get up to normal speeds quickly and without undo fuss. The parameters of the turbo four combined with the 8 speed suggest to me it is perfectly fine. Moreover, Who is running timed quarter miles in their family SUV? And who wants to pay for the gas to constantly feed, let’s say, a 392 hemi in the family Durango? (Love the 392 but complete overkill for almost any street application.). The car magazines and the internet have helped create a generation of armchair experts who will say this or that about any vehicle when in reality the vehicle’s performance is perfectly adequate. I am not a slow driver by any means - me and. a few friends did amateur racing for quite a number of years. But that background was useful for teaching me how uninformed a lot of the automotive press and internet commentary is. when it comes to the performance of a given vehicle. The reality is that almost any of the mass market family SUVs are well built and have performance that is more than adequate for the typical day to day task. The real issues for a family will be running costs and repairs. I suspect the Atlas suffers relative to peers like Honda and Toyota because VW has a reputation for lower reliability as compared to those two brands. Families are rightly concerned about running costs - irrespective of whether the critiques of VW is merited, that is likely the driving issue of the sales divergence.
 
Huh

Quoting for emphasis.

It always makes me curious when people says any full size family truckster is “slow.” First of all, almost all modern vehicles are pretty quick and well powered compared to what I grew up with in the 1980s. Secondly, for a car like an Atlas, the real issue is whether you can maintain a comfortable highway pace and get up to normal speeds quickly and without undo fuss. The parameters of the turbo four combined with the 8 speed suggest to me it is perfectly fine. Moreover, Who is running timed quarter miles in their family SUV? And who wants to pay for the gas to constantly feed, let’s say, a 392 hemi in the family Durango? (Love the 392 but complete overkill for almost any street application.). The car magazines and the internet have helped create a generation of armchair experts who will say this or that about any vehicle when in reality the vehicle’s performance is perfectly adequate. I am not a slow driver by any means - me and. a few friends did amateur racing for quite a number of years. But that background was useful for teaching me how uninformed a lot of the automotive press and internet commentary is. when it comes to the performance of a given vehicle. The reality is that almost any of the mass market family SUVs are well built and have performance that is more than adequate for the typical day to day task. The real issues for a family will be running costs and repairs. I suspect the Atlas suffers relative to peers like Honda and Toyota because VW has a reputation for lower reliability as compared to those two brands. Families are rightly concerned about running costs - irrespective of whether the critiques of VW is merited, that is likely the driving issue of the sales divergence.
I agree.

As far as reliability ours has been great. We do have a Toyota as well. I’m aware of the higher maintenance and running costs, but honestly VW parts and service is not much higher if any compared to our Toyota. Preventative maintenance is just performed more frequently created a higher overall ownership cost.

At the time the grand Highlander wasn’t out yet and the normal Highlander is much smaller than the Atlas. My wife liked the VW and I think the EA888 has been around long enough that it’s pretty reliable. The 8spd Aisin is not much different than the ones Toyota is using.

I maintain the vehicle performance is perfectly adequate for its intended usage.
 
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The EA888 is easily tuned, even with a piggyback box if an ECU flash is a concern. Can easily pick up an extra 30+hp/30+ tq which would come in helpful given its a porker relative to the other vehicles that VAG uses the 2.0 in. This arguably makes it more desirable than the VR6 option if you are shopping years where that was still available.
 
Huh

Quoting for emphasis.

It always makes me curious when people says any full size family truckster is “slow.” First of all, almost all modern vehicles are pretty quick and well powered compared to what I grew up with in the 1980s. Secondly, for a car like an Atlas, the real issue is whether you can maintain a comfortable highway pace and get up to normal speeds quickly and without undo fuss. The parameters of the turbo four combined with the 8 speed suggest to me it is perfectly fine. Moreover, Who is running timed quarter miles in their family SUV? And who wants to pay for the gas to constantly feed, let’s say, a 392 hemi in the family Durango? (Love the 392 but complete overkill for almost any street application.). The car magazines and the internet have helped create a generation of armchair experts who will say this or that about any vehicle when in reality the vehicle’s performance is perfectly adequate. I am not a slow driver by any means - me and. a few friends did amateur racing for quite a number of years. But that background was useful for teaching me how uninformed a lot of the automotive press and internet commentary is. when it comes to the performance of a given vehicle. The reality is that almost any of the mass market family SUVs are well built and have performance that is more than adequate for the typical day to day task. The real issues for a family will be running costs and repairs. I suspect the Atlas suffers relative to peers like Honda and Toyota because VW has a reputation for lower reliability as compared to those two brands. Families are rightly concerned about running costs - irrespective of whether the critiques of VW is merited, that is likely the driving issue of the sales divergence.

Spot on assessment. We have a 2025 and the power is more than adequate. I am not a fan of the new exterior as I feel the 24-26 looks better. They need to return the chrome on the rocker panel as it gives some visual drama to a bland slab sided vehicle. Also the front grill could use some improvements. The interior does look better than the current model. If and when I need to replace mine I would consider purchasing the 2027+.

When I bought mine I wasn't concerned about the 4 cyl as we had basically the same engine in our 2019 Q5 and it was downright peppy, granted the Atlas weighs more but I felt it wouldn't be a problem(besides I have other fast cars :)) I was more concerned with the lack of buttons but it honestly is a non issue. Volume on the steering wheel and temp can be adjusted by tapping blue/red slider. Each tap is 1 degree. I honestly don't know what you would need to adjust while driving.
 
I have no issue with the Atlas
Underpowered?
That's the legend of VW going back many decades with the Bettle ...
And the Vanagon.. the Thing...

Some people thrill themselves with small displacements...
 
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