Volkswagen has shown off a bakkie concept based on its big Atlas SUV. While it's not scheduled to be produced, Volkswagen is using the New York auto show to gauge response and feedback, especially since the US is a massive bakkie market. Should Volkswagen make a big bakkie?
The Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak pickup truck concept is the first bakkie based on Volkswagen's MQB platform. It's powered by a 3.6 V6 petrol engine pushing out 205 kW and features an eight-speed automatic gearbox and 4Motion all-wheel drive. The use of MQB is fascinating as it underpins everything from a Polo, to a Tiguan and numerous Audi products too. It proves the theory that MQB can be stretched out for even more products. By American standards, the Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak is classified as a large midsize truck, which makes it bigger than the Amarok. Inside, the Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak concept has been designed as a spacious five-seater bakkie. The dashboard is based on the US-only Atlas SUV, but has been heavily redesigned.
It is purely a concept for now and given how large the US (and South African) markets are in terms of bakkies, we'd be surprised if a version didn't eventually make its way to production. Watch this space.
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