1 best of : We Hear: Volkswagen Atlas Chosen as Name of Automaker’s New SUV

The big Volkswagen SUV has a name. It’s been almost four years since it debuted as a concept, but the Volkswagen Atlas name was finally uncovered today by Automobilwoche, a German sister publication of Automotive News.

According to the report, VW trademarked the name “Atlas” in the U.S. back in April. It’s unclear why Volkswagen kept the name such a secret for so long, but the automaker previously hinted it would devise a more “American-style name” that was simpler to say (and spell) than Tiguan and Touareg, the nameplates of its two SUVs sold in the U.S. VW Group of America CEO Hinrich Woebcken previously suggested the name would be exclusive to North America.

The three-row crossover was first unveiled in concept form at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show sporting the “CrossBlue” name. As previously reported, the Volkswagen Atlas will be built at the automaker’s U.S. production plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee alongside the midsize Passat sedan.

Last month, VW teased the Atlas in a video revealing powertrain details. A 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 will serve as the base engine making 238 hp. For more power, a 280-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 will also be offered. Both engines will be mated to an eight-speed automatic. Targeted at established segment leaders like the Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer, the VW Atlas will fill a crucial gap in the automaker’s U.S. lineup. VW claims the Atlas will offer segment-leading interior packaging and driving dynamics. Production of the Atlas is slated to begin by year’s end before the model reaches showrooms in the second quarter of next year.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)