Rumor has it that the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas Pickup will be the famed German automaker’s latest attempt at tackling the unibody pickup truck market. Although, Volkswagen is yet to confirm these claims, multiple sources are fairly certain that the pickup truck version of the Volkswagen Atlas, the company’s popular three-row crossover, will soon be heading into production.
If Volkswagen were to release this new pickup truck version of the Atlas, they would probably follow the Honda Ridgline’s pathway which saw the Ridgeline make use of all the characteristics of its predecessor, the Pilot. The Honda designers took the unibody construction, transverse engine arrangement, and crossover-like driving characteristics and made it work for their new Ridgeline pickup truck. So, it would make perfect sense for VW to do the same and use the Atlas Crossover SUV as the base for its mid-sized, unibody pickup counterpart.
2019 Volkswagen Atlas Pickup Rendering
image credit: top speed
Exterior
If the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas Pickup does make it to production, we expect to see all the main design features from the Atlas SUV transferred into this new model. Everything from the two-bar grille and the LED headlights to the prominent fenders and character lines is expected to stay. However, there is still some room for improvement with the bumpers, where some miniscule changes might occur. We do expect to see some more rugged and pickup-suiting features like the underbody skid plates, black cladding, as well as the ground clearance as big as eight inches.
Honda Ridgeline
image credit: top speed
As this would be a mid-sized pickup truck, there is the question of a tailgate. What would it look like? Will they use the same Dual-Action tailgate the Ridgeline has? Probably not. Since that system is most likely reserved only for Honda under Copywrite laws. However, Volkswagen might come up with a similarly innovative system. Moreover, we are looking forward to seeing what they do with the in-bed storage options, and if there will be a 110-volt power outlet and movable tie-down loops.
Honda Ridgeline
image credit: top speed
Interior
Same as with the exterior, the inside of the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas Pickup is expected to more or less mirror the one of its SUV counterpart. Not too shabby for the new pickup model since the Atlas SUV features a rather plush cabin with a very modern and minimalistic interior design. Expect to see all the latest VW digital features such as the Car-Net infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and dual zone climate controls.
Going from an SUV to a Pickup, there will certainly need to be some changes in the back row, and it will be quite interesting to see what VW ultimately goes with. But, much like the Honda Ridgeline, this new Atlas pickup will need to offer a family friendly solution with ample space and easy configurability. Something like a mid-gate system that opens the cargo area into the cabin, would be a welcome addition. But at this point, this is purely speculation, and we can’t wait to see what Volkswagen actually has in store.
image credit: top speed
Engine and Powertrain
The newest model of the Volkswagen Atlas Crossover SUV is offered with either the base 238-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, or the more powerful 3.6-liter VR6 with up to 280 horsepower. The only transmission option is the eight-speed automatic with a manual shift mode. The base engine sends all its power to the front wheels, while the VR6 is available with the 4Motion AWD, which offers driver-selectable drive modes for various terrain conditions.
It would be in Volkswagen’s best interest if they use these same two engines in the Atlas Truck model as well. Not to mention that would be quite a leg up on its biggest competitor, the Honda Ridgeline, which only offers one engine option. But, we’ll just have to wait and see what Volkswagen decides to go with.
image credit: top speed
2019 Volkswagen Atlas Pickup Release Date and Price
At this point, there is no official information regarding the release date and price of this new 2019 Volkswagen Atlas Pickup, as it is still fairly early in the process. Although, if this new model were to come out today it would probably start at somewhere around $30.000.
featured image credit: autoweek
