{also piping hot}
Checking out the Atlas: This new full-size tall wagon from Volkswagen will go on sale by mid-2017. The Atlas name was apparently picked because it’s short and obviously easy to pronounce, unlike the Tiguan and Touareg names that belong to the other wagons in the VW lineup. The new seven-passenger model that will be built at VW’s Tennessee plant will be available with an all-new turbocharged four-cylinder engine, or optional 280-horsepower V-6. That’s right, there will be no diesel for this model or any other VW vehicle for the 2017 model year. A hybrid version might be in the works, however.
A six-figure Jeep? That’s what The Sleuth sources say might happen. Jeep’s parent, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), is planning a direct assault on the premium sport utility market, which is currently dominated by Land Rover. However Porsche, Bentley, Maserati and others are also in the hunt, or planning high-end sport utes of their own. To get in on this action, Jeep will rehabilitate the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer nameplates that disappeared in 1991. The returning models, which will use a stretched version of the Grand Cherokee platform, are expected to arrive in late 2018 for the 2019 model year and could sell for as much as US $140,000. As well, both ultra-luxury models will have three rows of seats as standard. There’s no word yet regarding powerplants yet.
Mustang “kit” upgrades in the face of a hot Camaro?: Perhaps it’s just a market blip, but Ford Mustang sales took a noticeable dip this fall. In fact the Chevrolet Camaro outsold the Mustang in September, although year-to-date the latter remains solidly in the driver’s seat. Ford appears to at least be partially responding with upgrade kits for the turbocharged fourcylinder and V-8 engines. The turbo’s output is bumped to 335 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque from 310/320 while V-8’s kit increases performance to 448 horses and 416 poundfeet of torque from the stock 435/400. Either kit will fit manual-transmission or automatic Mustangs and won’t void warranty.
Chevrolet diesel might pick up where Volkswagen leaves off: The Sleuth believes that GM’s Bowtie division will likely seek out current and former Volkswagen Golf and Jetta turbo-diesel owners (and others) with its homegrown (and presumably emissions-correct) turbo-diesel engine. The new 136-horsepower four-cylinder will be optional in the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and could also be destined for sedan and hatchback versions of the 2017 Chevy Cruze. In light of the VW’s diesel-emission-cheating scandal, the company will not produce any four-cylinder diesel vehicles in North America for the 2017 model year. Where will diesel lovers go? Well, Chevrolet has an option.