VW Pickup concept (2008): first official photos

By Chris Chilton

First Official Pictures

24 September 2008 18:00

He’s designed Alfa Romeos, Audis and even a Lamborghini but now Walter de'Silva has gone all humanitarian and designed a pick-up. 

VW’s first small flatbed since the Mk1 Golf-based Caddy will take on trucks like the Toyota Hilux and Mitusbishi L200 when it goes on sale late in 2009.

It is, but not for long. This thinly veiled concept, called simply Pickup Concept, has been designed as a search and rescue vehicle for coastguards but essentially this is what badge-conscious UK builders will be driving in 2009.
 
The new Volkswagen corporate face with its monobrow top grille and wide mouth is likely to be carried over mostly unchanged to the cars that will roll off the South African production line, as will the surprisingly stylish interior which features hooded instruments and Audi TT-style air vents.
 
Mechanical details are sketchy but Volkswagen claims that engines will be common-rail diesels which rules out the old-tech 2.5 five pot that powers many of VW’s current commercials. The group’s powerful 3.0 TDi is likely to be offered along with the 2.0 TDi which, while down on capacity compared to rivals’ engines, actually offers more torque.
 
Volkswagen isn’t revealing whether a single-cab version will also be available but expect to pay less than £20k for a bare-bones double cab.

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By Chris Chilton