At the 2017 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Volkswagen announced an aggressive product plan for the future and gave us a look at two upcoming production models — the 2018 Atlas and 2018 Tiguan — and one awesome microbus concept: the I.D. Buzz.
VW made their plans to move past the continuing emissions scandal loud and clear in Detroit. They discussed an aggressive game plan that calls for 10 new vehicles worldwide by 2020, including introducing two models to the U.S. market every year within that time frame. This will largely be centered on crossovers and electrification, and, fittingly, that's exactly what the automaker showed off at NAIAS.
Volkswagen I.D. Buzz Concept
Volkswagen made its biggest splash in Detroit with the unveiling of their I.D. Buzz Concept. This electric microbus quickly became a darling of the auto show, and it's easy to see why. It invokes all the nostalgia of the classic VW microbus combined with the futuristic element of autonomous driving.
The Volkswagen I.D. Buzz Concept is a fully-electric, autonomous microbus. The concept holds dimensions similar to that of Veedub's European T6 Transporter commercial van.
Volkswagen gave the I.D. Buzz a very familiar set of design cues. It evokes its classic microbus roots in many ways, including the two-tone paint job, flat panels below the beltline, and windows above it.
The concept's zero-emission, all-wheel-drive powertrain utilizes two small electric motors at the front and rear axles with a power conduit between them. It's claimed to make 369 horsepower and carry a 270-mile range on a full charge. VW also says that the floor-mounted 111-kWh battery can be charged to 80 percent capacity in 30 minutes.
Inside, the I.D. Buzz offers a cabin with a versatile seating system capable of holding up to eight passengers, front and rear luggage compartments, and a touch-sensitive steering wheel. A traditional dashboard is absent in favor of an augmented reality head-up display and I.D. Box center console that includes a tablet.
The bus concept has fully autonomous driving capability with its I.D. Pilot mode that uses an array of scanners, sensors and cameras. When this mode is activated, the driver and front passenger can turn their seats 180 degrees so they can face the passengers in the back.
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
Volkswagen also highlighted two production cars at the press preview portion of the Detroit Auto Show. One of them was the world-wide revealing of the new 2018 Tiguan.
Just like the Atlas, which was revealed a few months back and we'll get to in a second, the 2018 Tiguan is based on VW's Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) architecture. It can seat five or seven with the available third row. VW says the third row will be standard on FWD Tiguans and optional on the AWD models.
The new Tiguan is much larger than the current European model. It's about 10.7 inches longer with a wheelbase that is 4.4 inches longer, and cargo capacity has increased as much as 57%.
The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan features a wider and lower stance with strong character lines. It also offers a gigantic suite of driver assistance technology, including a standard rearview camera. The interior has an upper-class feel thanks to lots of high-quality materials.
The new Tiguan will be powered by VW's updated 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged and direct injection TSI engine. It will be paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and put out 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque.
The 2018 Tiguan will be standard in front-wheel drive, while VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is optional. That comes with four driver selectable modes to maximize both traction and enjoyment on and off the road.
2018 Volkswagen Atlas R-Line
In addition to the Tiguan, Volkswagen also gave its recently-announced 2018 Atlas some shine in Detroit. The three-row mid-size crossover was introduced several months ago, and the performance-inspired R-Line trim Atlas was on hand at NAIAS.
The seven-passenger Atlas is VW's long-awaited entry into the midsize SUV segment and is the brand's largest vehicle ever built in the U.S. VW executives estimated that the 2018 Atlas would start around $30,000 and top out around $48,000.
The new R-Line trim package gives the Atlas an extra dose of sportiness and comes with exclusive design elements including performance-inspired treatments, 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, R-Line badging and unique front and rear bumpers.
Both the standard 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and the R-Line variant will be available with two engine options, both of which are paired with an eight-speed automatic. There's the four-cylinder TSI turbocharged engine that makes 235 horsepower, or a 3.6-liter V6 with 276 horsepower. The 4Motion AWD system is available on V6 models.
Both the 2018 Tiguan and 2018 Atlas are expected to go on sale in the spring of 2017. However, the R-Line package isn't going on sale until later in the year. Official pricing hasn't been announced for either model as of yet. Stay tuned for more details as we move closer to their on-sale date(s).
