2024 Volkswagen Atlas: Unveiling the Advanced 2.0-Liter Engine and Enhanced 4Motion System

Volkswagen has taken the automotive world by storm with its 2024 Atlas, a family-friendly seven-seat midsize SUV that offers exceptional power and performance. The key highlight of this latest iteration is its revolutionary "Evo4" 2.0L four-cylinder TSI EA888 engine, one of Volkswagen's most advanced powertrains ever built.

The heart of the Atlas, the new 2.0L engine, packs a punch with 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque when fueled with regular fuel. This marks a significant increase of 34 horsepower and 15 lb-ft of torque compared to its predecessor, making it an impressive contender in its segment. Notably, this engine delivers power over a broader rev range (1600-4500 rpm) than the previous six-cylinder models, ensuring smooth and responsive driving dynamics.

Volkswagen engineers have integrated cutting-edge technologies into the engine to strike the perfect balance between efficiency and power. The inclusion of direct fuel injection and turbocharging enables optimum performance while maintaining fuel efficiency. Enhancements to reduce internal engine friction, such as a new balancer shaft design, have been implemented, and the engine's acoustic properties have been refined to ensure a quiet and pleasant driving experience.

The new engine's exhaust headers are directly integrated into the cylinder head, optimizing turbocharger proximity and allowing for more rapid warm-up, thereby improving overall efficiency. Additionally, the engine features a new single-scroll turbocharger and a V-band mounting connection to the exhaust system, accommodating greater-volume catalytic converters.

Paired with the engine is an eight-speed automatic transmission, designed to maximize efficiency and deliver power either to the front wheels or to all four wheels when equipped with the 4Motion with Active Control all-wheel-drive system. Urban efficiency is further enhanced by start/stop technology, which automatically turns off the engine during idle moments, conserving fuel.

Speaking of 4Motion, the latest-generation all-wheel-drive system in the Atlas activates before any wheelspin occurs, ensuring minimal traction losses. This advanced system utilizes an electro-hydraulic oil pump to engage the rear wheels in a fraction of a second when needed, providing optimal traction and stability. The 4Motion system also includes Drive Mode Select, allowing drivers to customize vehicle profiles based on specific driving conditions, offering five settings for front-wheel-drive models (Eco, Comfort, Sport, Custom, and Snow) and an additional Offroad mode for all-wheel-drive models.

In Snow mode, the Traction Control System (TCS) actively reduces engine power upon detecting slippage, while Offroad mode features manual control of transmission shifting and automatic activation of Hill Descent Control on steep gradients. The Offroad ABS programming ensures the vehicle remains steerable while significantly reducing stopping distance on challenging terrain.