Spy Shots: 2010 Volkswagen Robust pickup caught wearing its own sheetmetal
by John Neff on Apr 22nd 2008 at 12:56PM 
Click above for high-res gallery of 2010 VW Robust spy shots
Until now, spy shots of Volkswagen's upcoming pickup showed only a mule wearing the body of a Toyota Hilux pickup. These are the first shots that we've seen of the truck, internally called the Robust, wearing its own skin. This version is a quad-cab with a short bed, though we know from a prior rendering that a two-door standard cab with a regular-sized bed will also be offered, as well as two- and four-wheel-drive versions. The truck will be built at factories in both Argentina and Hannover, Germany for markets around the world, though VW has not said if it will ever see a dealer lot in the U.S. The Robust looks to be about the size of a Ford Ranger, which makes us hope that VW does decide to sell it in the U.S where the market for a small, efficient pickup is ripe for the taking. Check out more high-res spy shots of the 2010 Volkswagen Robust in the gallery below.
Gallery: 2010 Volkswagen Robust - spy shots
[Source: Brenda Priddy & Co.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
John Johnson 1:01PM (4/22/2008)
A TDI would be so nice in this thing. 45MPG and great torque? What's that?
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chris 1:02PM (4/22/2008)
I agree a fuel efficient diesel or gas engine would be great.
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C.W. 1:13PM (4/22/2008)
Looks a little Frontierish in shape, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. TDI with great MPG FTW!
Level 1:12PM (4/22/2008)
so this car will be a rebadge Hilux?
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tanooki2003 1:34PM (4/22/2008)
why don't you read the article again and take notes
Level 1:38PM (4/22/2008)
::sarcasm::
dan spalinger 1:14PM (4/22/2008)
and people thought a full size Toyota truck was a hard sell...
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Yago Bal 1:15PM (4/22/2008)
The sheetmetal looks quite cheap and it's styling lame... which is disappointing.
But fits North and South American markets' demands, I guess.
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tankd0g 1:46PM (4/22/2008)
Ya who's going to buy a truck with a nylon cover on it anyway?
Yago Bal 1:58PM (4/22/2008)
Tankd0g:
I'm not talking about graphics and detailing: I'm talking about panel gaps and what we see of the lateral design options.
Guenther 4:49PM (4/22/2008)
Panel gaps??? are kidding? Its a damn development rig. If the doors stay closed, you're ahead of the game.
steve 1:20PM (4/22/2008)
i dont get it...no access cab,only 2 and 4 door models. That's retaded
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Guenther 4:52PM (4/22/2008)
Not for South American market, which is where this is headed. Extra-cabs are a very small segment there, compared to regular and double cabs.
Nicko 1:25PM (4/22/2008)
Good to see the small truck segment re-surging. I've known (and experienced first-hand) too many people dis-appointed with VW's products to consider another one however; oil-consumption anyone? Common Honda, step-up and build us a 30-35 mpg mini pick-up.
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Yar 1:26PM (4/22/2008)
What a terrible idea...
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Eek 1:42PM (4/22/2008)
I see a lot of Chevy Colorado in the profile view. Although that may just be the thick gray fender flares.
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tanooki2003 1:42PM (4/22/2008)
I think this is a superb idea. The terrible idea was for Ford to not update the Ranger and then kill it off.
If this comes here before Mahindr/Tata or the Chinese model does then I will be the first in line to buy one. Just please don't make it cost as much as the Tacoma because that price tag is just plain ridiculous.
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Xcountryflyer 1:47PM (4/22/2008)
Odd brand extension by VW here in the US. Compact/smaller pickups should be more fuel efficient that fullsize. The midsize pickups MPG are now are as bad as fullsize, there is no point to getting a midsize.
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steve 1:52PM (4/22/2008)
stiil they sell alot of tacomas cuz some people just dont want the physical size of a full size pu. But yes the lack of fuel economy in available mid size is ridiculous. I saw a mitsubishi mighty max the other day and drooled a little
blake 1:53PM (4/22/2008)
Not quite, i get about 14mpg in my 2004 5.4 F-150 and 18-20+ in my 2005 4.0 Tacoma.