The Volkswagen Teramont Pro, which recently appeared in China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology filings, is set to become the next-generation 2026 VW Atlas for the North American market. The current VW Atlas, a three-row SUV that mirrors the design of China's Teramont, has been in production since 2017. It received facelifts in 2020 and 2023, and Volkswagen has confirmed that the model will remain unchanged through 2025. This means the new generation of the Atlas is expected to arrive in the U.S. and Canadian markets as a 2026 model.
The new SUV will be built on Volkswagen’s MQB Evo platform, which is commonly used across the VW Group’s internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle lineup. According to official specifications, the VW Teramont Pro measures 5,158 mm in length, 1,991 mm in width, and 1,788 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,980 mm. This makes it 60 mm longer than the current U.S.-spec Atlas, although both vehicles share the same wheelbase, suggesting that the Teramont Pro will offer slightly more cabin space or storage than its North American counterpart.
The latest images from China show a fully redesigned Teramont Pro, featuring a more angular, boxy shape with refined design elements. It retains the Teramont’s signature double-story headlights, which have been updated with tinted clusters and sleeker graphics. The front grille is now illuminated and seamlessly connects the headlights with the Volkswagen emblem, giving the front end a cohesive and modern look. Volkswagen plans to offer two front bumper styles for the Teramont Pro: one with slimmer air intakes for the base model and a sportier design for higher trims. These variations could suggest that the next-gen Atlas will follow a similar structure, with a standard model and a more aggressive R-Line variant for the U.S. market. However, specific features for the U.S. version may differ. At the rear, the redesigned taillights are set within a dark trim piece that extends into the vehicle's profile, reminiscent of the styling seen on the smaller VW Tiguan. These design updates align with earlier spy photos of the next-generation VW Atlas, which was caught in camouflage during testing in Europe.
The VW Teramont Pro 450TSI, featured in these images, is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 268 horsepower. Power is sent to all four wheels via a DSG automatic transmission and Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. It is expected that the North American version of the VW Atlas will continue to use a 2.0 TSI engine, and there is speculation that a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant could also be introduced.
Chinese filings suggest that the VW Teramont Pro will be launched in China before the new Atlas arrives in North America, with a potential local release early next year. The Teramont Pro is a product of the SAIC-VW joint venture and will be sold alongside the current Teramont in China. This strategy mirrors Volkswagen’s approach with the new VW Passat Pro and the existing Passat in China, expanding the brand’s offerings in that market.
In North America, the debut of the next-generation Atlas is expected next year, likely to be released alongside the sportier Atlas Cross. The Atlas Cross, which is essentially a sleeker version of the Atlas with a more steeply sloped rear window and no third-row seating, offers a more coupe-like alternative to the traditional SUV. With the Teramont Pro leading the way in China, the upcoming VW Atlas is shaping up to be a significant refresh for Volkswagen’s SUV lineup in North America.