- A new VW-branded SUV, the Teramont Pro, has made an early appearance in China.
- The model is likely a precursor to North America’s 2026 VW Atlas, expected next year.
- The 3-row SUV is 5,158 mm (203.1 inches) long and likely uses the MQB Evo platform.
It’s really hard to keep up with Volkswagen’s ever-expanding SUV lineup in China, but some models cross over to other markets, even if under different nameplates, giving us an early preview of what’s coming. Case in point: the new VW Teramont Pro, which just showed up in China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. This model is poised to hit the North American market as the next-gen 2026 VW Atlas.
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The current three-row VW Atlas, a twin to China’s Teramont, has been on the scene since 2017 and has undergone facelifts two consecutive facelifts in 2020 and 2023. Volkswagen has confirmed the model will continue unchanged through the 2025 model year, meaning that the new generation could arrive in the US and Canada as a 2026 MY.
More: 2025 VW Taos Arrives With Sleeker Face And More Power, Ditches DSG
The latest photos from China reveal a fully redesigned Teramont Pro, sporting a boxier shape and refined surfacing. It keeps the Teramont’s distinctive double-story headlights, now updated with tinted clusters and sleek graphics. The grille, now covered and illuminated, bridges the headlights with the VW emblem, creating a cohesive front-end appearance.
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Volkswagen plans to offer two versions of the front bumper for the Teramont Pro: slimmer intakes for the entry-level model and a sportier aesthetic for higher-spec trims. These variations may hint at the standard and R Line versions of the upcoming Atlas, though the US-spec model might include market-specific features.
MIIT
At the rear, the taillights are embedded within a dark trim piece, extending into the profile—similar to the smaller Tiguan. All these features all but confirm what we saw in earlier spy shots of the VW Atlas, with a camouflaged prototype being caught during development testing in Europe.
Future Cars: The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas SUV
Official documents reveal that the VW Teramont Pro spans 5,158 mm (203.1 inches) in length, 1,991 mm (78.4 inches) in width, and 1,788 mm (70.4 inches) in height, with a wheelbase of 2,980 mm (117.3 inches). This makes it 60 mm (2.4 inches) longer than the US-spec VW Atlas, though both share an identical wheelbase. In all likelihood, the SUV will utilize the MQB Evo platform, consistent with most of VW Group’s ICE-powered vehicles.
The VW Teramont Pro 450TSI showcased in the images features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that churns out 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS), with power delivered to all four wheels through a DSG automatic and VW’s 4Motion AWD system. Meanwhile, the North American-spec VW Atlas is expected to continue with a 2.0 TSI engine, potentially accompanied by a PHEV variant.
The filings from China suggest that the VW Teramont Pro will be unveiled earlier than the new Atlas, possibly reaching the local market early next year. The SUV is a product of the SAIC-VW joint venture, and will be offered alongside the existing Teramont. The same strategy has been followed by the new VW Passat Pro and the old Passat, further expanding the number of VW offerings in the Chinese market.
We expect the new North American Atlas to debut next year, possibly alongside the sportier Atlas Cross—which is nothing more than a regular Atlas with a steeply raked rear window and no third-row seating.
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