While we are fans of independent renderings, there is something special when automakers give us a glimpse of what is happening behind the closed doors of their design studios. Albert Kirzinger, Head of Design at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles did exactly that, publishing an official sketch of an Amarok-based SUV on his LinkedIn profile.
Kirzinger said: “Exploring design ideas for the Amarok pickup truck! Our research phase back in the day took us on an off-road journey, and here´s a sneak peek with a rendering featuring a fully closed pickup bed. Ready for rugged adventures!”. He also revealed that the sketch was created by Simon T. Gorski who is a member of his team.
More: First-Gen 2024 VW Amarok Gets A Second Act In South America With A Facelift
However, the sketch looks more like a truck-based SUV rather than a modified truck with a “fully closed pickup bed”. This is evident from features like the uninterrupted roofline, the seemingly shorter wheelbase, and the larger rear doors which are touching the wheel arches.
Other differences from the Amarok pickup include the slightly redesigned face with an unpainted bumper and sharper full-width LEDs. Finally, the all-terrain tires, increased ground clearance, front skid plate, side steps, snorkel, and roof rack add to the rugged stance of the vehicle.
Could VW Make An Amarok SUV?
The VW Amarok is based on the Ford Ranger which is available in SUV form as the Ford Everest in certain market regions around the world. This makes a great case for some badge engineering, as VW would only need to redesign the rear part of the bodywork to make it work. When asked in the comments, Kirzinger refused to elaborate if an Amarok-based SUV is planned for the future, but judging from earlier reports, this is unlikely to happen.
Back in 2022, Volkswagen Commerical Vehicles board member for marketing, Lars Krause downplayed the rumors about a VW-badged sibling to the Ford Everest by saying: “It’s always an idea also to set up a robust SUV based on the pickup, but we do think that the setup of the pickup is currently best-delivering value to our customers”.
This is not the first time that Albert Kirzinger has published previously classified content. Last year, he shared a bunch of early development sketches that looked quite different from the production-spec Amarok. We hope that he continues this practice in the future, showing us more of the creation process behind VW’s light commercial vehicles.
