Driven! The World’s Only Volkswagen Atlas Harlequin

There isn't a bigger VW Harlequin enthusiast on planet earth than Jamie Orr. He owns three Golf Harlequins, a Harlequin bicycle, a Harlequin suitcase, and even commissioned a run of Harlequin socks. So strong is his influence within the global VW community that the brand produced a limited-edition run of Harlequin-colored valve stem caps with Orr's name printed on them, which were sold as part of the DriverGear merch line.

That's why, when the 25th anniversary of the Golf Harlequin was approaching in 2021, Orr was practically obligated to build an homage to an icon of 1990s style. Embracing the popularity of SUVs, he chose a three-row Volkswagen Atlas VR6 4Motion SEL as the basis for his project.

When we traveled to Pottstown, Pennsylvania, to drive and photograph Orr's beautifully kept 1996 Volkswagen Golf Harlequin, we knew we also wanted to feature his customized Atlas Harlequin. Fortunately, Orr was more than happy to toss us the keys to the multicolor SUV, allowing us to relish in the joy that is this colorful ute.

Like so many of the things that delight us today, Orr's Atlas Harlequin owes its existence to a meme. Instagrammer @bradbuilds drafted a rendering of a quad-colored Atlas as a joke. Not one to leave things unresolved, Orr set about to make the Atlas Harlequin a reality.

Orr began his build in the same way Volkswagen built the Harlequin Golf, by painting the body one solid color, Chagall Blue. Orr's Atlas remains consistent with the original Golfs by wearing the body color on the rear quarter panels and roof. Every other body panel is painted individually, in keeping with the pattern established by Volkswagen in the '90s for the initial run of Harlequin Golf hatchbacks. The front doors, front bumper, and mirror caps are Tornado Red while the rear doors, hood, and rear bumper are painted Ginster Yellow. The front fenders, grille, rear hatch, and spoiler wear Pistachio Green. To make the exterior look a bit sportier, Orr installed bumpers and side skirts from the R-Line trim level.

To add more eccentric flair to the Atlas Harlequin, Orr doubled down on yet another meme from @bradbuilds as a finishing touch. The concept artist rendered a set of "milk crate" Rotiform wheels for a Nissan R34 GT-R, and Orr thought they needed to come into existence. He begged Rotiform to build them for real, and eventually the manufacturer obliged with a set of 22-inch wheels for his Atlas and a smaller set for a Harlequin Golf SEMA build.

Orr partnered with Black Forest Industries, the same company that made the Atlas' custom four-color shift knob, to fabricate seats that nod to those in the 1996 Golf Harlequin; their plaid pattern is akin to what's found in the GTI hot hatchback with blue, green, yellow, and red stripes. Orr also added Volkswagen Accessories Muddy Buddy floor and trunk mats as well as rear seat covers. The result is a car that feels like a rolling temple to Volkswagen's Harlequin heritage.

Other than adding an Integrated Engineering cold air intake, Orr didn't fuss with the drivetrain but made plenty of other performance alterations to his Atlas. The three-row SUV rides on Solo Werks custom coilovers with KW shock absorbers, with optimizations made for towing. Stopping power is provided by brake calipers and rotors poached from an eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf R mega hot hatchback. A custom exhaust setup was fabricated from Borla components, including exposed tips.

The result is an Atlas that drives nothing like its OEM counterparts. Orr's Atlas Harlequin rides much more like a sport wagon than a family-friendly SUV, stiffly sprung but still compliant for daily use. Volkswagen's throaty VR6 engine opens up with a burble thanks to the modified quad-tip exhaust setup, and the beefier brakes provide ample stopping power when called upon to haul the ute down from speed.

Even on those massive 22-inch Rotiform wheels and lowered suspension, the Atlas Harlequin remained comfortable as we explored the region surrounding Orr's shop, Orchid Euro. The build may look like a show car, but it bucks any expectations of unsuitability for frequent use. We enjoyed our time driving in town and on the highway, but Orr has given his Atlas the ultimate shakedown: His Harlequin has lapped the Nürburgring during an extended stint in Europe.

That trip across the Atlantic provided an extreme test for the Atlas Harlequin. After traveling to Poland for a car show, he was struck by the proximity and gravity of the war in Ukraine. Orr worked with locals and the online car community to raise money for supplies, ultimately using his Atlas to deliver in-demand supplies to the village of Lviv. Using his know-how as a vehicle logistics expert, Orr also facilitated the delivery of a school bus. The Atlas Harlequin ended up driving thousands of miles during its European sojourn, proving its capability while bringing relief to people in need.

Even if it started as a joke, the Atlas Harlequin is nothing to scoff at. Orr paid undeniable attention to detail in replicating the manufacturing process of the original 1996 Golf Harlequin when he created this homage.

The only downside, he says, to driving it in the real world is the amount of attention he gets from curious onlookers. We experienced this firsthand while out in the field with the Atlas; people simply want to know what it is, if it came like this from the factory, and why it even exists. That's why Orr uses a V-8 Volkswagen Touareg for most of his towing duties. However, when it's time to pull a show car or make a grand entrance with one of his other projects, there's no better option than this Atlas Harlequin.