Volkswagen truck

[hadda61beetle]

Yes I know we maily talk about our beloved Beetle Bugs on this site, but has anyone heard the rumor of VW "maybe' coming out with a truck? I don't mean a warmed over Toyota or a 80's style Rabbit...but a real TRUCK? Ya know to compete with Chevy/Ford?

I heard something about this a couple days ago on the radio, but I think they were just doing a teaser.

Jerry

[wawalker]

They did just rebadge a Chrysler minivan as the VW Routan, maybe they'll rebadge a Dakota as a VW next?

[Toad]

vw does sell trucks in other countries. they're actually pretty cool, but as you said, they;re little trucks like the old rabbit trucks they had here in the 80's.

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by wawalker

They did just rebadge a Chrysler minivan as the VW Routan, maybe they'll rebadge a Dakota as a VW next?

When I read this thread title, that was the first thing that popped in my head

A crying shame on the whole Routan thing. Bring back the eurovan, I say.

[mrchaotica]

I wouldn't mind a VW truck, as long as it had a TDI version!

[SMG]

I'd rock a 2.0T VW truck on coils.

[BUGSTUFF]

Here ya go....it ain't no Dakota....

Volkswagen showcases new Pickup concept vehicle

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is presenting five world premieres at the Commercial Vehicles Motor Show in Hanover, Germany, including a preview of the Volkswagen Pickup. This totally new model, in the 1-tonne class, will be launched as the fourth new series of Volkswagen light commercial vehicles towards the end of 2009, joining the Caddy, Transporter and Crafter in Volkswagen’s commercial vehicles stable.

The other debuts at the show are a Caddy PanAmericana concept car, a new all-wheel drive Caddy 4MOTION, a Caddy Life ‘Style Edition’, plus a Crafter BlueMotion concept.

The Caddy PanAmericana concept car is based on the Caddy 4MOTION but with an extra appetite for adventure featuring Salt-Lake Grey paintwork, 16-inch off-road tyres and unique leather upholstery.

The Caddy 4MOTION (for left-hand drive markets only) has a fuel-efficient 1.9-litre TDI 104 PS engine with a fourth-generation Haldex coupling and a six-speed manual gearbox.

As a demonstration of a possible range-topping model, the Caddy Life ‘Style Edition’ is distinguished by 16-inch alloy wheels, a chrome-look radiator grille, lowered running gear, a pull-out loading surface and high-quality leather interior fittings.

The Volkswagen Crafter BlueMotion concept will show the potential fuel economy that could be offered by a large panel van. It uses AdBlue technology to reduce fuel consumption and achieve compliance with Euro V regulations.

[mrchaotica]

I like it! You can tell it's Euro-only though because they put a stick shift in it.

[noR]

Yes, them 'Mericans don't know how to shift anymore these days.

[vwgary]

THIS, is a Volkswagen pick up

[wawalker]

Originally Posted by scarabY2k

When I read this thread title, that was the first thing that popped in my head...

Great minds think alike!

Originally Posted by BUGSTUFF

Here ya go....it ain't no Dakota....

Volkswagen showcases new Pickup concept vehicle...

Too bad it's not, cause that isn't a pickup. Same way that the Honda "truck" isn't a truck. It's an SUV with a bed just big enough for hockey moms to haul home their groceries or some plants for the flower bed.

Real pickups have beds big enough to haul full sheets of plywood, ladders, tools, feed for your farm animals, etc.

That VW "truck" is just a poser. I will return to VW when they make a real truck (with a diesel).

[noR]

Looks like a truck to me. Has a flat bed & everything. Bummer they shortened the bed instead of chopping off the 2 extra doors though.

But they can't release a concept Saveiro when it already exists, can they?

[wawalker]

Originally Posted by noR

Looks like a truck to me. Has a flat bed & everything. Bummer they shortened the bed instead of chopping off the 2 extra doors though.

I'll change my tune if it is available in other configurations like regular cab, and extended cab as well as the crew cab concept. I suspect that this is it though--just like the Honda and Explorer Sport-Trac.

But they can't release a concept Saveiro when it already exists, can they?

Who is making the decisions at VW? They don't penetrate the market much to speak of with TDIs in cars(and it seems they don't really want to), but the truck market would welcome a TDI in a small truck. They could take a big bite out of the Colorado/Ranger/Tacoma marketshare.

[mrchaotica]

Originally Posted by wawalker

I'll change my tune if it is available in other configurations like regular cab, and extended cab as well as the crew cab concept.

Ditto: I'd prefer a regular-cab truck too.

I have to say, I'm not a big fan of that Saveiro though. It looks like an '80s Toyota or something. It'd be better if they smoothed out the body lines, made the rear window look "attached" to the front window (as in many current trucks, e.g. the F-150), and made the front end less car-like.

[wawalker]

Originally Posted by mrchaotica

Ditto: I'd prefer a regular-cab truck too.

I have to say, I'm not a big fan of that Saveiro though. It looks like an '80s Toyota or something. It'd be better if they smoothed out the body lines, made the rear window look "attached" to the front window (as in many current trucks, e.g. the F-150), and made the front end less car-like.

Yeah, the Saveiro is dated style-wise. I do like the look of the concept truck--an updated Saveiro in that style with an Americanized name and a TDI would be a hit here.

[larryziegler]

In the grand scheme of things today, large truck production has gone south for the time being and may never be the same, given energy costs. GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, and Nissan are all in deep doo-doo with sales of their large trucks. Very few conventional cab trucks are sold to the general consumer anymore. The safety issues with airbags, babies, and small children have made the "crew cab" the truck of choice and need by so many people. The Honda Ridgeline was specifically designed to be a "homeowners pickup" and not meant to cater to the contractor who needs size. The bed will hold 4x8 sized sheets of plywood, they will just hang over the back end of the tailgate by a couple feet. It was also designed to be easily parked in the garage. It is not an SUV based vehicle. It has a specially designed frame structure that shares no platform with any other vehicle. It was designed as a light truck from the ground up. Where I think I am in agreement is the need for a light duty Tacoma type pickup with a TDI powerplant that would enable it to get 30+ mpg on the road. If you want a big truck, there's plenty of inventory sitting around. In fact, so many, that I won't be surprised to see dealers offering brand new 2008 models during the 2010 model year. In the end, with truck sales down with all car companies, I don't see any reason for VW to jump into this game at this point.

[wawalker]

"homeowner's pickup"? Are you PR for Honda? A pickup is a pickup and that ain't no pickup.

I know people who have family working for Honda and would love to take advantage of the family buyer discount, but "they don't make a proper pickup" is what he said, and he's not a contractor, just an average Joe that hunts and pulls his bass boat to the lake. His opinion is what most pickup driving people in my area think of the Honda--no matter what its development path was. The Honda pickup is "a poser", "an SUV with an open top cargo area", "not a real pickup".

The point is that VW has the technology (cue 6 million dollar man music) to take the pickup from where it is today averaging 12-14 MPG city and 17-20 MPG highway up into the 30 MPG range and totally dominating the existing market. Yes, sales are down, but the pickup will never die--contractors, farmers, businesses will always need them.

"Homeowners" want pickups too--that's where a VW small/midsize Colorado/Ranger/Tacoma with a 2.5-3.0L 4cyl. TDI could rule the roost. Limiting the new VW to only a crew cab configuration is to ignore much of its' potential.

[Ollie]

I like Gary's truck

If I had to have a new VW truck, I'd go to South Africa:

[macdave]

Originally Posted by wawalker

"homeowner's pickup"?

The point is that VW has the technology (cue 6 million dollar man music) to take the pickup from where it is today averaging 12-14 MPG city and 17-20 MPG highway up into the 30 MPG range and totally dominating the existing market. Yes, sales are down, but the pickup will never die--contractors, farmers, businesses will always need them.

"Homeowners" want pickups too--that's where a VW small/midsize Colorado/Ranger/Tacoma with a 2.5-3.0L 4cyl. TDI could rule the roost. Limiting the new VW to only a crew cab configuration is to ignore much of its' potential.

Toyota already has these, just not in the US.

the Hilux with 4x2,5spd and the 2KD-FTV 2.5l turbodiesel it gets 37mpg hwy and 24mpg city. Actual mileage is probably higher.

Outside north america they don't even offer a gas engine in the hilux/tacoma.

http://www.toyota.co.uk/bv/CV/downlo...cification.pdf

[englishman11]

I would only consider that concept VW truck if it actually came with the ax and bolt cutters !