Rendered Speculation: Volkswagen Robust pickup
We've seen the spy shots and we've heard the rumors, and now Pickuptruck.com has sketched up its own interpretation of the 2010 Volkswagen "Robust" pickup truck. While the name is still unconfirmed, the pickup's front fascia is kind of a no-brainer. Expect VW to port over its corporate mug, complete with gaping maw, shallow air dam and headlamps that add a bit more sport to the Touareg's sedate lenses.
When the Robust goes on sale in 2010 it's likely to be available in both two- and four-door versions, powered by a slew of new common-rail diesel engines and possibly a gasoline-powered V6. Two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive variants are a distinct possibility, but some version of the Robust coming Stateside is unlikely.
[Source: Pickuptruck.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chaz 1:49PM (3/26/2008)
I suppose a Taro would be out of question. Pity.
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Goobz 1:50PM (3/26/2008)
We don't need this thing stateside anyway, they can keep it, bring the Scirocco here and a Polo.
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Gstill 1:53PM (3/26/2008)
If they keep this small, they'd only have to beat the Ranger and Mahindra's clunker for a piece of the actual compact truck market. I think they should push for this and stay away from minivans.
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DCragtop 1:55PM (3/26/2008)
Speculation?? It's a VW pickup. How much 'speculation' or excitement could there even be? Bring the Corrado/Scirocco back.
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Ian 5:18PM (3/26/2008)
1. Fuel prices are going up, and there are no compact trucks in the US market anymore.
2. VW Rabbit pickup. Remember that? How could you not approve?
Mattias 2:13PM (3/26/2008)
I do not expect Volkswagen to slap on the face of the current generation Golf/Jetta/Passat/Touareg.
This pickup is designed by Volkswagens commercial vehicle division, so ikt is more likely that they put THEIR corporate face on it. So it might more likely look like the Constellation or the Crafter.
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BigMcLargeHuge 2:24PM (3/26/2008)
We could definitely use another compact pickup in the States. I'm tired of having to choose from the Ranger and the... uhhhh....
Mattias 2:32PM (3/26/2008)
The Ranger is a nice pickup, at least the Thai/Euro/SADC Ranger. You still got the old Ranger and Ford decided to shut down the factory istead of tooling for the new Ranger? That's bad! Which other compact pickups do you have? Here in Europe we currently get the Taliban style Toyota, the L200 (nice pickup), the Nissan Navara (did get some bad press because of bad EuroNCAP results) and the Isuzu D-Max with even worse EuroNCAP results. So currently the number of models is small but the demand is also relatively low because pickups are just used by hunters, on building sites and for pulling horse trailers. People who need a car for transporting usually buy Sprinters and Ducatos.
Nevertheless there is some demand and a Volkswagen pickup with acceptable EuroNCAP results, a good price, the loud but economic I5 diesels from the Crafter and the no-frills washable interiour of the T5/Crafter could get good sales numbers here in Europe -- and everywhere were Volkswagen has a strong name -- Mercosur and SADC are seen as prime markets for the Robust.
Chaz 3:04PM (3/26/2008)
@Mattias
While the US doesn't have the Hi-Lux per se, There is the Tacoma, which is equivalent. The Navara is the Frontier in the US, and the D-Max is the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon/Isuzu i series (sort of). The arguments here mostly lament the trend of growing smaller trucks (and all trucks for that matter) in the US. This is also the motivation for the Toyota A-BAT concept, which would be nice to see.
From VW, I would expect something like a Ridgeline, or (if the Routan is any indication) for badge engineering fun. I know the motivation for post-Piech VW is a return to the roots of simplicity and fun (see up!) and a spartan little truck (like the Mahindra) would fit that bill...
Mattias 3:13PM (3/26/2008)
@Chez: AFAIK is the D-Max much smaller than the Colorado, Tacoma and Taliban pickups should be closely related (a bit better interiour for the US, some extra inches wheelbase?).
The Routan will neither be badge engineering fun -- we had this kind of fun when the war caused production of the TAS pickup in Sarajevo to cease and VW replaced it with the CKD built Toyota Hi-Lux. Volkswagen already confirmed that the Robust will share many components with the Crafter (that was developed together with Mercedes Benz). Thus do not expect something like the ridgeline, the VW will be a workhorse with body on frame or at least welded on frame stubs on the rear end like the open versions of the Crafter.
Chaz 3:47PM (3/26/2008)
That is good to hear.
Tim 4:20PM (3/26/2008)
I would say, VW would want to see how the Pontiac G8 Sport Truck does, then they should evaluate whether or not to bring in that type of small truck.
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SoCalObserver 6:54PM (3/26/2008)
Agreed. Who knows, maybe the whole El Camino-style pickup will be a hit in the U.S. You never know.
However, I would also say that VW should wait until they fix their core line-up before they start venturing off into segments that very few U.S. buyers would ever associate them with (minivans, pickups, reliability). Though I do think the Tiguan will do well, if it's not insultingly overpriced.
Guenther 4:22PM (3/26/2008)
Mattias- the Hilux and out Taco are all but identical in size, and although much is unique, they're derived from the same LC120 platform. I actually like the interior much betting in the Hilux. the D-Max is still very closely related to the Colorado/Canyon, although the frame was reworked extensively, because of the immense labor hours that go into the Thai frame (cost prohibitive for US production). The Thai Ranger is much nicer than the old POS we have here. For was very strong in that market for a long time and just abandoned it.
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Calguy 3:05AM (3/27/2008)
Oh jeepers.. maybe VW can add a targa limo and a 3-wheeled luxury yacht ... and maybe a 4 room convertible v12 before they just SEND US A GREAT SMALL CAR. Poor VW.. just do the tango if you dance the tango, instead of giving us a lame chorus line every time it's product-release time. Did somebody ASK for a VW pickup?
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