VW considers new pickup, planning more minicars

Posted Tue Sep 11 2007 8:43 PM by Kenneth Hall

In its quest to overtake its main rival Toyota, especially in the lucrative US market, Volkswagen is considering developing new pickup truck models to expand its range. In addition to the new utilities, officials are also planning to develop a “family of small vehicles,” as revealed by CEO Martin Winterkorn during an interview with the Financial Times. Pictured above is a one-off Touareg pickup concept built by Volkswagen Individual.

VW is keen to strengthen its image in the US, where sales of pickups dominate the market. According to Winterkorn, VW is targeting a sales tally of eight million vehicles by the end of the decade. Last year, VW sold just under six million vehicles. By contrast, Toyota managed to move over nine million.

Southeast Asia is another prime target for VW. Its current market share in the region stands at just 0.1%, whereas Toyota commands roughly 25% of the market. As for its small car ambitions, the new up! minicar concept previews a production model set to go on sale before 2010. The concept features a rear-engine RWD platform that, according to Winterkorn, could be used to spawn a minibus, four-door hatch and other mini-variants.

Reader Comments

Wed Sep 12 2007 8:42 AM
HECTOR says

For VW that thing in the picture is going to be a MUCH bigger flop than the Phaeton. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but VW is very far away from being able to compete with Toyota in the USA.
Wed Sep 12 2007 9:43 AM
Apex Alex says

vw has a problem with its reputation for unreliability. it is at the opposite end of the pole from toyota in this respect.

people tend to buy trucks for their utility, ROBUSTNESS, and presumed rugged reliability. you are right, vw will not be able to compete with toyota in this segment.
Wed Sep 12 2007 2:44 PM
big L says

Uh, no.
Thu Sep 13 2007 4:12 PM
kevin says

i think yall are rite vw cant compete with toyota but then again toyotas tundra wasnt always the best pickup in the US
Mon Sep 17 2007 3:50 AM
J Baustian says

You are forgetting how much torque the Touareg has with the V-10 TDI engine. And not much less with the new V-6 TDI. I agree that they don't have a gas engine that's suitable for a pickup in this class. But they don't need one. Didn't you all see the video of a Touareg towing a Boeing 747? Now imagine how easy it can tow at least a medium-size trailer? And still get nearly 30 mpg when it's not towing.

The Touareg SUV could be used as a tow vehicle, but a Touareg-based pickup would be better. Especially with a 5th-wheel. Come on, VWoA, make it happen.
Thu Sep 27 2007 7:17 PM
Gregory Faulkner says

J Baustian is right.

VW is arguably making the best diesel engines right now, and their managing equal horsepower to naturally-aspired gas engines built by other manufacturers, while offering equal refinement as well. All of this with 40% better fuel economy than gas-powered VW comparables. The TDIs have an added benefit of as do all diesels for being able to accept alternative fuels (biodiesel and renewable diesel) with no necessary engine modifications and no losses in fuel economy. Try that with a gas-powered, flex-fuel vehicle running ethanol. It's not going to happen. With a diesel, one gets a double advantage. (1) Superior fuel economy, and (2) One gets to keep all that superior fuel economy while choosing a renewable fuel.

I'm driving a 2006 Jetta TDI. I'm getting over 40 mpg consistently running 20% biodiesel in the blend of fuel. I buy it straight from the retailer pre-blended; pump it in for the same price; and that is all there is to it. The standard gas engine, in the same car, is estimated at 22/30 mpg and even if it were designed to run on ethanol, it would get 25% worse fuel economy than the already measely rating.

Applying these VW diesel advantages to a truck would be great for America and bad for those oil producers sponsering terrorism. The 3.0 V-6 (fifty-state emission compliant) would work well in that mid-size pickup.
Sun Jan 20 2008 4:27 PM
Steve-o says

Do they REALLY think that thing in the picture can compete with a Toyota Tacoma (or even a Ford Ranger for that matter)??? Granted it's a novel car design. But that's the problem - it's a CAR. It's more in a class with the old Suburu Brat. A novel idea, but definitey NOT a Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Frontier, Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, etc.
If VW were smart they'd come out with their own version of a REAL pick up truck (Toyota-sized) that's comparable to Hilux and Ranger and so on, keep the price around $20k or so, and they'd do well in the US/Canada market. Despite the glitzy "luxery pickups" that some are selling these days, the main thing most Americans and Canadians look for in a truck is durability, reliability and utility. The concept pictured above may be able to be made duable, even reliable. But utilitarian (in the sense of "using it like a pick up truck)? No way! And if it's going to be based on a Taureg - the $40,000 Volkswagon - I doubt the price is going to be anywhere near as low as a Tacoma or Ranger. Can we say "flop", Volkswagon guys?
Tue Feb 19 2008 3:50 AM
Larry C says

If the styling looks like the one shown in your article forget it! I don't want another goofy styled pretend truck - there are enough of those already on the market. I have owned two rabbit trucks and loved them both. They got excellent mileage, were simple to maintain and worked well for the lighter duty jobs that I used them for. If VW would simply bring in the wondreful little truck they make in Brazil (expecially as a turbo diesel) I would buy it in a heart beat. Not everyone wants or needs a overblown gas guzzling beast capable of towing a house. I do however suspect I am not the only one that would like a smaller truck capable handling trips to the dump, nusery, or lumber yard for weekend projects while retaining good fuel mileage and ease of driving on congested city streets.

MotorAuthority