Rumors of a German (or at least German-branded) pickup truck have been bouncing around longer than a Lamborghini sport-ute or Ferrari sedan, and may seem just as out of place. But the automotive paparazzi have brought the speculation back to the forefront, spying a developmental test mule of what is tipped to be a Volkswagen truck undergoing apparent cold-weather testing.
The vehicle spied appears to be the mid-size quad-cab short-bed pickup rumored to wear the Robust nameplate. A variety of cab and bed configurations are likely to be part of the package when it goes into production in Argentina. An SUV derivative is also anticipated to be part of the package, slotting in the Volkswagen truck line-up between the Tiguan and Touareg in whichever markets VW winds up offering it.
[Source: Auto Express]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MajorGeek @ Mar 30th 2008 5:53PM
Would LOVE a quality built midsize truck that was Dakota size. Shots look better then what I have seen in the past, looks a little like a Titan from this distance I thought.
oZ @ Mar 31st 2008 12:51AM
How about a Dakota?
lad @ Mar 31st 2008 1:19AM
Many of you may not remember the old VW truck produced decades ago; It was a disaster. Many buyers reported that the chassis bent into a permanent U shape right behind the cab and just before bed, after being loaded. I'm sure the new one will be better designed...at least I hope so!
Dave @ Mar 31st 2008 7:26AM
Is this another rebadged Nissan truck? Suzuki is getting one and VW just rebadged their new mini van made by Chrysler.
Neil @ Mar 30th 2008 6:23PM
Kind of looks like a Nissan Titan.
SPG @ Mar 30th 2008 7:14PM
I agree.
Reader @ Mar 31st 2008 2:04AM
That's what I thought too... maybe it'll have a beetle front :D
Rick @ Mar 31st 2008 7:44PM
I agree as well. It looks like a Nissan. So one has to wonder if this really was a VW since the photog didn't get very close?
Milos Radulovic @ Mar 30th 2008 6:55PM
There's really that much space between Tiguan and Touareg to have another SUV/CUV??!?!
AMcA @ Mar 30th 2008 8:50PM
It's body on frame. You can see light under the bed in those pics.
Body on frame is going to disappear, someday, in the pickup market. It's a 500+ lbs disadvantage. GM's showing unibody pickups. Ford just showed a unibody Explorer.
This thing is behind the times before it's even launched.
Matthew_NZ @ Mar 30th 2008 9:05PM
That 'evidence' proves nothing, however.
It could still be of monocoque construction, considering the rear tray wouldn't be a structural element if the same model was to be offered with a wooden deck etc.
That 'light' is the gap between the chassis rails and the tray, from the tray foward it could well be of unibody construction.
I wouldn't expect a technlology and engineering expert like VW to be behind the times....
cxvargas @ Mar 30th 2008 9:20PM
Looks like a Toyota Hilux. Is this a brand new truck or joint project?
Doug @ Mar 30th 2008 10:08PM
It is not a joint venture, it is an original VW design...the Hilux mule bodies/resemblence is because that is the target market, plus to stir the rumor mill because of the past VW/Toyota Taro JV.
The name of the project is Robust Pickup...a unibody/monocoque pickup will NOT be able to take much the load that body-on-frame pickups can...there is still a place for them (esp. in non-US countries, which is the initial markets for this truck). The car-based pickups from GM, as referenced above, will not be able to carry/tow what a half ton pickup could.
psarhjinian @ Mar 30th 2008 10:39PM
Come on, call it the "Thing".
vielzebub @ Mar 30th 2008 11:18PM
This is a tangent...I apologize, but Dear Jeep, for years Jeep faithful begged for a Jeep truck.
Time and again we saw concepts brought forth only to be told "there is no market for small trucks."
If there's no market for small trucks a lot of other companies didn't get that memo.
Usuk Jeep and it's too late to win me back, I bought a 2004 Tacoma. Good luck with the Compass.
Whew.
Thanks.
Had to get that off my chest....
MajorGeek @ Mar 31st 2008 12:11AM
As you might know from my posts, I am an avid H2 fan, but would consider a Jeep based pickup, only if done right. The new lineup all look the same, it would have to have some class and decent size, perhaps the Grand Cherokee platform, but they would screw it up and make a 4 door Wrangler into a pickup to compete with the H3T, rather then write their own rules :(
havoc @ Mar 31st 2008 12:52AM
jeep did make a truck, the comanche (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_Comanche). my ex's would chirp the wheels into 2nd. it was an undying beast, complete with old crappy 4l High(?)output.
i would rather have had the old vw rabbit pickup (diesel of course).
havoc @ Mar 31st 2008 12:45AM
you can't really make a truck without nuts...
lug nuts.
i hope it is body on frame, otherwise it's a cross-over or a ridgeline.
The Luigiian @ Mar 31st 2008 1:34AM
Looks pretty, hope it's fuel efficient, don't care if it's unibody or not. A body-on frame can be fuel efficient too, just look at the Ranger and Tacoma. It just needs to be light.
Chuan @ Mar 31st 2008 10:26AM
lol yeah...i bet it's just a photo of a Titan someone took on their phone.