Click above for high-res gallery of the VW Concept Pickup
Volkswagen's entry into the "one-ton" truck fray has officially hit the Web before its proper unveiling at the 62nd IAA Commercial Vehicles Show, and although it's only called the "Concept Pickup" for now, this spartan work truck is what consumers in South America and other emerging markets (not the U.S. and Europe) will likely know as the Robust when it goes into production In Pacheco, Argentina next year.
Blending V-Dub style with a profile reminiscent of the Honda Ridgeline, the double-cab concept is tarted up with SAR badges, a functional light bar and all the life-saving tools that you'd find in a coastal search-and-rescue-mobile, include a Baywatch-style "can" in the bed.
We're partial to the massive grille and deep air dam that spans the fascia, along with the bars flanking the bed and the incredibly production-ready interior. Both gasoline and diesel powerplants will be available when the production version goes on sale next year, and if it were 1995, we'd loved to see the VW pickup available in the U.S.
[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Torrent @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:25PM
I can honestly say it looks worlds better than I thought it would.
meshies @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:36PM
my EXACT thoughts
brandon @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:48PM
dito
HotRodzNKustoms @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:00PM
Agreed, I thought it look as bad as the Honda.
P.V. @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:25PM
I beg to differ; I think the Scirocco/Golf/Rabbit front end doesn't work too well with the general boxy shape of the truck.
The rest of it: meh.
3seriesisking @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:59PM
I agree....it a fresh, honest design that really doesn't look too bad at all. Good job VW.
BigMcLargeHuge @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:35PM
"one-ton"? Are we sure about that?
I wasn't expecting VW to start in SuperDuty territory.
MONTE @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:41PM
Most all current trucks are over a ton on payload. The payload rating of a F-150 is almost 3100lb and technically that's a half ton truck. That is what they mean by "one ton".
On a side note, nice VW Ridgeline.
BigMcLargeHuge @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:48PM
I agree the naming convention is stupid, but its still a misnomer.
EXP Jawa @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:55PM
A one-ton rating (and a diesel engine) is just about manditory in South America and other similar markets for compact trucks, at least if you actually want customers to consider them...
BigMcLargeHuge @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:10PM
The American convention for a one-ton is anything that could carry a ton in its first generation. These days those same models can carry 2-5 times that much.
I always thought our naming convention was crap. But I didn't realize in other countries a one-ton is something that can actually carry a ton of payload.
garlinski @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:36PM
Wow... wow... I like it.
Jei @ Sep 24th 2008 12:23PM
I agree. I like it too.
But I'd like to see a more street-oriented version. If you can convince the average consumer that this truck will look pretty good at the curb, it'll have a chance. And throw some 20" wheel & tire packages on it too. Make it look urban-tough instead of rural-ready.
Remog @ Sep 25th 2008 12:22PM
Wait.. Urban-Tough?...
I picture Urban-Tough as: 22" chrome spinners, 10megawatt sound system blairing out gansta rap, under glows, and enough electronic bling to require your own nuclear reactor in the bed.
speedball3 @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:41PM
This is what the Ridgeline should have looked like!
The Luigiian @ Sep 22nd 2008 9:24PM
I hope the upcoming ABAT looks like a slightly more aggressive version of this.
leadhead @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:43PM
That looks more like 1/4 ton, 1/2 ton tops to me. Ultra small bed, bed part of the cab. Its obviously not something meant to do lots of heavy work.
Remog @ Sep 25th 2008 12:21PM
Actually.. if you look closely at the pics provided, there is a seam just behind the rear doors, and ahead of the "rollbar" thing.. and if you look at the in-bed shot, there is defiantly a separation between the bed and cab.
it looks uni body but it might not be. just alot of molded metal - more than necessary.
Dondonel @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:45PM
Not bad, if they came up with it two years ago.
Nellydesign @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:47AM
Personally I think just making a nice looking small truck (especially unibody) look good is breaking new ground. Inside and out it makes the competition look like crap.