Volkswagen used to have a pickup truck called the Volkswagen Taro back in 1989, which was essentially a badge engineered Toyota Hilux. The project was discontinued in 1996. Now Volkswagen is developing the second generation Volkswagen Taro, and it is expected to be unveiled at the end of 2009.
Volkswagen had exhibited a pickup truck concept in the early 2000s called the Volkswagen Advanced Activity Concept. It looks pretty much like the Touareg but with a pickup body form. It had an adjustable air suspension which at its highest point allows for 390mm of ground clearance, and at its lowest, 280mm.
The original Taro used a 2.4 litre Toyota diesel engine but the Volkswagen AAC used the big twin turbodiesel direct injection V10 also found in the Touareg, mated to a 6-speed Tiptronic auto and a permanent all-wheel drive system.
More photos after the jump.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
yea first to comment. Nice Suicide Door the front look like a touareg. Is That a golf stick in front of the gear?
look like goft stick endeed…second wuuuaaaaa
Huh…this must be a luxury pickup truck… Volkswagen really serious on all types of vehicles….Great design….
Omigosh that is so cool~!
Whoaah!! I’d love to try this tough looking machine. Will bring it for a deep forest fishing trip.
This is MyviKiller here.
Beautiful pick up, but won’t be able to see its production though.
VW is goin into pickup market ?
imagine we get cheaper VW cars(pick up)
haha !!!
nice! but the name remind me one of ultraman character…hehe. peace!
I have 3 feet of snow, with more on the way!!!!! I need that truck now!!!!!!!
I think they need to push the rear wheel a little bit foward. BTW very interesting pickup
Volkswagen Taro… Remember the comedy sitcom “Mind Your Language”? The Japanese student named Taro Nagazumi who always say “ah-so”! Hehe
too luxurious to be thrashed away in off-road adventure!!
air suspension means the rear suspension is not of leaf spring type right?
looks like this is meant for the US market. The rear looks weird, almost like the mustang rear.
Damn cun man….
looks awesome…specially with VW’s V10 diesel !
will ppl buy this car and run on dirty off road ?? or climb a hill can damage this very expensive VW car ?? only the rich ppl affort …
Voruksvagen taro, bakayarou, rhyme kan? hahaha\
Anyways, this is just a concept.
Wow… smooth and muscular! Looks even better than the Toyota concept! Too bad we won’t get it here. Actually, even if they do, I doubt anyone will buy one here. Only crazy Americans will splurge so much on a pickup!
its only a concept interior, production models will never look like that.
but its definitely one for the US market.
armandd, practically all modern SUV/pickup/4wd trucks today do not use leaf springs anymore but coil ones. 4×4′s like the range rover have been using fully independent air suspension for many years now.
will said the car look v. american style “bimp daddy”.
wahlaueh…
i like the front look but not from rear… may b backlights design not suite my taste…
From the photo, i am pretty sure back seats rest will have very straight angle which not comfortable for rear passengers in long distance travel….
not bad, at least not boring to look at……
why the taillight nvt changing one…feel broed with VW taillight
So, what has become of this lovely design?. I am sure it can definately earn good green credentials nowadays whilst retaining its off-road abilities. I have been a proud owner of a 1994 VW taro 4×4 Etra-Cab, 2.4litre Diesel for the last 12 years and I am now looking for a replacement (up-grade, if you like). So, when I saw this design 2 years ago, I said to myself " Yesss! my pick-up is got a son coming at last. Same looks". A couple of friends who saw your design told me they would go after my Pick-up's son once its born. So I have been waiting for this birth to happen since then. Did I miss something? Please advise