Looking much like Volkswagen’s Concept Pickup shown nearly one year ago, a Robust/Amarok prototype was once again caught by our spy photographers, but this time with a tad less camouflage and – thanks to our ace spies – we even caught a quick glance of the production-ready interior.
Production is expected to start later this year in Pacheco, Argentina, and the truck will be sold in South America, South Africa, Australia, as well as in some European countries.
Robust, the working code name, will likely be changed to “Amarok” when the truck is officially introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show this coming fall.
With the current instability in the U.S. market, the new truck will likely be confined to the South America and Latin America markets. However, a reasonably priced, fuel-efficient pickup could do well in the United States given recent gas prices, but VW dealers have expressed concerns over the materials and relatively low price point of the truck. Dealers said the quality of some components are ‘far below’ what North American VW buyers expect (one can see in the photos that the dash is undoubtedly made of hard plastic).
However, the Amarok name has already been registered at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, indicating the truck could eventually make it to our shores.
Volkswagen is planning to build about 90,000 units annually for South American and Latin American markets.
08/17, 11:14 AM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
Where does VW come up with these ridiculous names lately?
I thought the concept truck had some style to it. Either I looked at it too fast or it lost all of it in the translation to production model. Blandm but probably right for it’s market
08/17, 11:14 AM
posted by:
jayjc08
Wait… did I seriously just hear that VW will not be selling this pickup in BY FAR the worlds largest pick-up truck market?
Sometimes I think they just enjoy giving America the short end of the stick, even when they’re missing out…
08/17, 11:18 AM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
Considering how old in design all the small-medium pickups are in the US at this time, I agree. They are missing a potential bonanza of a market opportunity here.
08/17, 11:27 AM
posted by:
reedfast
god, can they make a pickup truck look any girlier!
08/17, 11:35 AM
posted by:
scratchy
“South America and Latin America” , you mean South and Central America ?
08/17, 12:02 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
Still looks like a reskinned Nissan Frontier.
08/17, 12:04 PM
posted by:
2WheeledSpeed
I have a hard time seeing a VW pickup truly succeed on US roads, our market is already well established and very crowded (even if many of the designs need serious updating).
08/17, 12:33 PM
posted by:
elantra_touring
This product does not fit into the North American WV portfolio. It is not in par with their brand identity as a Euro- brand and the quality of this pick up especially the dash and the materials used, as VW wants to be considered a sub sub ssub premium brand. The Passat CC fits the bill for WV new image perfectly.
08/17, 12:50 PM
posted by:
zfenderguy
No sir, I don’t like it. If it was a reskinned Frontier, it’d be the best thing for it. I say keep it in South America. And about the name, I agree with DenverGuy. I say they rename it the “VW Djbouti”, cause the design is booty.
08/17, 12:51 PM
posted by:
bigp
ford should sell the best truck in the world around the world. F-150
08/17, 12:56 PM
posted by:
Vroom
Wow, what a design. Really stunning. VW has managed to capture the exact look and feel of every other 4-door truck on the market. Bravo. Just think, you get the same great truck style of a Toyota or Nissan in a completely unreliable VW package. About the only thing this unpronounceable truck is liable to haul is it’s owner to the dealers service bay.
08/17, 1:12 PM
posted by:
ricky_b
How big is it? If full sized, there are already too many options in US market. If more like Ranger sized, they could be on to something.
08/17, 1:40 PM
posted by:
A4
It isnt full sized, its about the size of a Frontier or Tacoma, if they dropped a TDI in it for the US market, and changed out the radio to the normal US one (the dash hole looks identical) and switch a few other little interior components, it WOULD sell. Sell it for $23K and just throw enough of a diesel in it for adequate power and Mahindra may as well stay home, and the rest of the full size market will wish they had the diesels available to them.
08/17, 1:41 PM
posted by:
A4
mid sized market*
08/17, 1:46 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
I would imagine a lot of girls and girly men would buy this truck. It just has the “sissy” look to it. Can it come with flowers in the cupholder too?
08/17, 2:24 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
A4’s got a point. If they put a diesel in this thing and sell it at a good price they will have a decent competitor in the US.
If it’s a me-too offering with nothing but at a higher price to distiguish it there is zero reason to choose it over a Tacoma (or if Ford gets off its but a new Ranger). It has no proven history in this area and the typical VW customer is too cowardly to drive a truck. This needs to offer a practical alternative and a good diesel in a small truck will do just that.
08/17, 4:18 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
I think they could steal more GM sales with this thing. Goodbye GMC
08/17, 7:10 PM
posted by:
andy
“Dealers said the quality of some components are ‘far below’ what North American VW buyers expect ”
bahaha… more like what NA buyers have been fooled into thinking, Das Auto, Das Crapo
08/17, 8:22 PM
posted by:
Borat
Well as VW said it ain’t for US market, but Mahindra is coming. And will take market by storm: remember GM guru’s came to the same conclusion that world need simpler, cheaper cars and trucks. Of course it took Obama’s administration to bring Lutz and co to that conclusion, but we are here now.
08/17, 8:28 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
They should have named it “Ragnarok”.
Scratchy, “South America and Latin America” can sometimes include Southern California, too.
Personally, if I were in the market for a truck, a small truck would not fit the bill for me. However, as I see tons of Tacomas, Rangers, Frontiers and S10s whose buyers want a replacement but just can’t see spending money buying a truck that is exactly the same as what they have…
A small truck with a diesel would definitely sell in the US.
08/17, 10:08 PM
posted by:
snoogah
they could sell this fine in NA if they put the right sized turbodisel in it for power and mileage
08/17, 10:22 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I’ve spent the last few weeks sampling the domestic’s small trucks. The Ranger might as well come a pair of bell bottoms and a disco ball, it feels that old. The Colorado/Canyon are way too close in price to their full sized siblings. The Dakota impressed me the most with the 302hp 4.7 but it isn’t a small truck, more like Ram Lite.
For what it’s worth I also checked out the Frontier last night after the dealership was closed. Nice truck and the price was very much in line with the competition- maybe even a bit of a bargain. No deals on Nissans right now though.
08/18, 10:14 AM
posted by:
A4
I bet you can get one hell of a deal on a Mitsubishi Raider (which is a Dakota) or the Suzuki Equator (Which is the same as a Frontier).
08/18, 11:51 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
We don’t get either up here unfortunately.
08/18, 2:59 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Looks like a Titan with a Pontiac nose
08/18, 3:24 PM
posted by:
A4
…Sport Trac?