You wouldn’t normally pick an Atlas for off-road duty, but how about this one?
Volkswagen’s shaking up the idea of the traditional family hauler at this year’s New York Auto Show. Meet the Atlas Basecamp Concept. It’s a three-row family hauler that wants to show it’s capable of more than just taking the kids to school. But is this trail-ready concept more than just an appearance package?
The Atlas Basecamp Concept is the creation of Volkswagen Exterior Design Manager Alex Earle. He took a Volkswagen Atlas SEL Premium as a base car, and painted the exterior Platinum Gray and Black Uni, complete with orange accents. A set of fifteen52 Traverse MX Concept wheels wrapped in 265/70R17 all-terrain tires and an Air Design body kit help finish off the look.
This concept does have more ground clearance than the standard Atlas, courtesy of a 1.5-inch H&R lift kit. Under the hood, you still get the standard 3.6-liter VR6 engine with 276 horsepower and an eight-speed transmission. Beyond the 9.5 inches of ground clearance, there’s a set of off-road LED lights and Front Runner roof rank system.
Home on wheels?
The Atlas Basecamp Concept also debuts with a Hive EX compact expedition trailer. The trailer comes with a queen-size bed, pullout canopy and a kitchenette. There’s an optional 12-volt battery, as well as self-contained water and propane tanks.
This is just a concept for now, so don’t expect to buy one anytime soon. However, if there’s enough interest after the New York Auto Show, perhaps Volkswagen will put it into production. While it may not tackle the Rubicon trail along the likes of the Jeep Wrangler, it may be a fairly rugged overlanding rig on the trails. Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more updates!
