2018 Volkswagen Atlas gets the R-Line treatment

The features include: 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels, snazzier bumpers, side skirts, and R-Line badges. The cabin gets stainless steel pedal covers and an R-Line steering wheel piece. The Atlas R-Line will be revealed next week at the Detroit Auto Show, and its features build on the SE and SEL trims.

The Atlas sport utility vehicle is VW's most anticipated vehicle in years. It goes on sale this spring and offers a 3.6-liter V6 with 276 horsepower or a turbo four-cylinder making 235 hp, which are each paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is also an option.

The three-row SUV is the linchpin of VW's plans to move beyond its diesel-emissions scandal and capture new customers in the United States. It takes aim at entrenched competitors like the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and others.

The Atlas is based on VW's MQB architecture and will be built at the company's Chattanooga, Tenn., factory. The R-Line will be available in late 2018, and pricing has not been released for any of the Atlas trims.