Should VW Build The Tarok Pickup For North America?

At last year’s NY Auto Show, VW unveiled the Atlas Tanoak Pickup concept, a dual-cab short-bed truck based on the automaker’s MQB platform. This year, we’ve been given the Tarok Pickup, yet another off-roader that smiles upon a younger generation of truck buyers.

The whole point of the (smaller) Tarok Pickup concept is the exact same one as with the Tanoak. V-Dub simply wants to gauge public reaction (for multiple markets).

The Tarok Pickup actually made its global debut back in November at the Sao Paulo International Motor Show in Brazil, and like the Tanoak, it too is based on the automaker’s popular MQB architecture, measuring 193.5 inches (4,914 mm) in length, some 5-inches (12.7 cm) shorter than the three-row Atlas.

Its party trick however is the fact that it can carry loads of up to 73.2 inches (1,859 mm) in length, using its innovative bed design that will extend forward into the cab. Payload is 2,271 lbs (1,030 kg).

Now, if towing is a priority, then this isn’t the truck for you, at least not if it ever reaches production powered by the same engine as the concept – which is a 1.4-liter TSI gasoline unit with 147 HP (150 PS). The permanent 4Motion all-wheel drive system should come in handy though, and features four different drive modes (Onroad, Snow, Offroad, Custom Offroad).

As for its cabin, it comes with a glass-covered 9.2-inch infotainment display, a digital instrument cluster, and even a removable speaker in the center console that you can connect to a smartphone using Bluetooth.

VW is already planning on offering a series-production version of the Tarok Pickup in Brazil, one that will look mostly just like the concept version. There, the truck will utilize a 2.0-liter TDI turbo-diesel unit with the same amount of horsepower as the previously-mentioned 1.4 turbo petrol.