Volkswagen offers a wide range of SUVs in China and continues to expand its lineup, with some models transitioning from one market to another, possibly under different names. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in China has just unveiled the new Volkswagen Terramont Pro model, which is expected to reach the North American market as the next generation of the 2026 Atlas.
The current Volkswagen Atlas, which features three rows of seats and is the twin of the Chinese Terramont, has been available since 2017 and has undergone two facelifts in 2020 and 2023. Volkswagen has confirmed that the model will remain unchanged until the 2025 model year, indicating that the new generation could arrive in the US and Canada as the 2026 model.
Latest images from China reveal the completely redesigned Terramont Pro, showcasing a boxier shape and improved body. It retains the distinctive two-part headlights with new colors and a modern design, featuring a now-covered and illuminated grille that connects the headlights to the Volkswagen logo, providing cohesion to the entire front design.
Volkswagen plans to offer two versions of the front bumper design for the Terramont Pro. The base version will feature taller air intakes, while higher trims will adopt a sportier design. At the rear, the taillights are integrated into a dark section that extends to the side similar to the smaller Tiguan.
Official documents indicate that the Volkswagen Terramont Pro measures 5158 mm in length, 1991 mm in width, and 1788 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2980 mm. This makes it 60 mm longer than the US-spec Volkswagen Atlas, although both share the same wheelbase. The SUV is likely to use the MQB Evo platform, like many internal combustion engine vehicles in the Volkswagen group.
The Volkswagen Terramont Pro 450TSI is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 268 horsepower. The vehicle transmits power to all four wheels via a DSG automatic transmission and Volkswagen’s 4Motion AWD system. Meanwhile, the North American Atlas is expected to continue with a 2.0-liter TSI engine, accompanied by a PHEV variant.
Information from China suggests that the Volkswagen Terramont Pro will be revealed earlier than the new Atlas and may hit the local market in early next year. This SUV is a product of a joint venture between Volkswagen and SAIC and will be offered alongside the current Terramont. Volkswagen has successfully followed this strategy with the new Passat Pro and the old Passat, increasing the number of Volkswagen models in the Chinese market.
