The recently revealed 2024 Volkswagen Atlas we reported on last week gains a new off-road themed Atlas Peak Edition unveiled at the New York International Auto Show. The new ruggedly styled trim grade gets its inspiration from the Volkswagen Basecamp Concept shown to us back in 2019.
For 2024, the Volkswagen Atlas already brings a redesigned face with new adaptive LED headlamps and LED signature lighting that spans the entire width along with a back-lit VW logo. The new Peak Edition adds more drama to the mix with a unique design blacked out grill and a lower fascia from the Cross Sport that’s more aggressive and here features a more rugged looking skid plate looking design element. I say “element” because it’s not actually a skid plate.
At the sides are a matching set of lower cladding treatments in black and silver that beef up the image and are book-ended by 18-inch black alloy wheels with 255/60 all-terrain tires. You get logos too with big Peak Edition badges in orange and chrome. Other details include black mirror caps, window trims, wheel arches cladding, and roof rails.
At the rear is the new for 2024 full width LED tail-light bar and accent strip with back-lit VW logo. Down low they’ve given it a unique rear fascia with a more rugged bumper trim and a special to the Peak Edition set of completely fake and function-less exhaust tips. Yuck. When is Volkswagen going to get off of this nasty little design drug. Someone needs to refer them to a rehab.
On a positive note, available to the Peak Edition are two exclusive colors, Pure Grey and the Avocado Green shown here.
The cabin also gets some positive vibes starting as a baseline with all of the fresh trim and tech upgrades that came with the refreshed 2024 Atlas. New softer more expensive feeling materials have been added throughout on the dash, console and doors. The redesigned dash has a new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and center stage is a new 12-inch touchscreen infotainment display with App-Connect among other features.
Peak Edition adds a more rugged and premium look with two tone black and grey leatherette seating and upholstery trim with orange contrast stitching. A black metallic check pattern accent trims adorns the doors and a special emblem is found on the steering wheel. And yes, the special ambient lighting is nice too.
It’s really all about flavor thought. The chassis and powertrain remain unchanged from the rest of the Atlas lineup. This includes the big powertrain change for 2024 where the long popular 3.6-liter VR6 engine was replaced with a 2.0 turbocharged and direct-injected four cylinder with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It has 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque.
While not as smooth and silky as the old VR6 it has more torque though that’s available over a wider rev range however and in spite of the smaller engine towing capability stays the same at 5,000 pounds.
The 2024 Volkswagen Peak Edition will launch late this summer with final pricing and package specs to come closer to that time.
