Caught In Testing, Volkswagen's Tacoma Busting Pickup!

Caught In Testing, Volkswagen's Tacoma Busting Pickup!

Here’s proof that Volkswagen plans to gatecrash the pick-up party! The German firm is developing its own rival to the Nissan Navaro, Mitsubishi L200 and Isuzu Rodeo.

Our spy photographers caught the flat-bed model during winter testing, and while they couldn’t get close, the picture shows a double-cab version is on the horizon. According to our sources, the all-new 4x4 will be given the Robust badge, which top brass hope will reflect its tough con­struction and practical design.

When it hits UK building sites, it will be the brand’s first proper pick-up. While flat-bed versions of VW’s Caddy van have been sold in the UK before, the newcomer promises gen­uine off-road ability and should be able to carry a much higher payload. The maker is also expected to build traditional single-cab versions, but the four-door model pictured here will go head-to-head with popular models like the Mitsubishi Warrior.
Read Article

M35MTM35MT - 3/31/2008 1:09:25 PM
+6 Boost
People buy trucks because they need a reliable and tough vehicle. Not some status symbol from Germany.

Good

Luck.


truckmentruckmen - 4/1/2008 4:34:29 AM
0 Boost
Toyota's quality isn't great anymore either.Look at youtube "Toyota Tundra truck bed bounce" to see it up against the Chev and Ford.A picture is worth a 1000 words, see it for your self before Toyota buys it from youtube or bans it.lol


r15mohdr15mohd - 3/31/2008 10:48:29 AM
+7 Boost
well it's a venture for VW...they better get things aligned and sorted. the tacoma is a great vehicle and is one of the better, if not best light pick-up trucks available.




truckmentruckmen - 4/1/2008 4:36:20 AM
0 Boost
Yes the Tundra is the best of the light trucks. Although it could use some improvements in the off road ability department just like the rest.


andrazandraz - 3/31/2008 10:55:59 AM
-4 Boost
VW in europe is regarded as one of the most reliable brands in history. So not sure what you americans are getting or smoking :).


AudiphileAudiphile - 3/31/2008 11:21:20 AM
+4 Boost
I have never lived in Europe, so I'll have to take your word for it regarding VW's reputation.

It could be that Volkswagen doesn't have a very good reputation in America because so many Volkswagens sold in America are made in Mexico and Brazil, where the labor is cheap and the quality may or many not be poor.

Another reason could be that a good reputation is very hard to earn but very easy to lose. My first car was a 1975 VW Rabbit, which was a lemon. Volkswagen might have cured their reliability/quality problems in the last decade or so, but I would never know because I haven't bought a VW in 30 years because of my bad experience with that Rabbit.


bmwdrvrbmwdrvr - 3/31/2008 11:43:11 AM
+7 Boost
maybe over there they have so many other cars that are so unreliable it makes the VW seem like a good car, but vw, and audi have always been poor from a reliability stand point im going to assume if the spend more time in the engine bay working on details instead the interior they would have less issues. but yeah awful cars


NotjustlexNotjustlex - 3/31/2008 1:23:36 PM
+3 Boost
VM is a piece of _ _ it in America that all that matters. Take a look at 3 year dependability studies (VDS) the only car that are worse is Saab, Isuzu, Suzuki and Land Rover.


Htay7500Htay7500 - 3/31/2008 5:07:43 PM
+3 Boost
"We like better designs and VW has good quality here."

as far as Im concerned, the jetta looks like a carbon copy of the last corolla, which was 6 yrs old compared to the look of the jettas current 3 yrs old look. sad that VW ditched the boxy look of the old VWs which seperated itself from its competiton.


truckmentruckmen - 4/1/2008 4:38:52 AM
+2 Boost
I have heard that VW is concidered one of the worst brands in Europe! That is coming from a friend of mine that was an editor of a popular car magazine.


goojmangoojman - 3/31/2008 11:21:58 AM
+12 Boost
VW in the US has horrible reliability and are at the bottom of the barrel in every objective ranking of brand reliability. Just because Europeans have come to accept poor reliability and call it good does not mean that the US has the same low standards. VW makes nice cars with lovely interiors and they drive well but they have rightly earned a reputation for very poor reliability. To state that their reliability is in the same league as Toyota and Honda is silly and uninformed. The facts state very clearly otherwise and VW management is on record stating that they are working on their reliability issues. Even they concede what you pretend to claim otherwise.


Htay7500Htay7500 - 3/31/2008 4:56:17 PM
+3 Boost
"VW makes nice cars with lovely interiors and they drive well..."

so hes being a lexus fanboy?


those who are gonna want a pickup would go for toyota, nissan, ford or chevy. and yes reliability and durability is very important. I highly doubt that people looking for a truck will find VW. they'd only look at the brands I mentioned due to their bright history of pickups.


Designer1Designer1 - 3/31/2008 11:34:24 AM
+6 Boost
This thing looks like Nissan Titan. It would be interesting to see clearer picts.


lexusrox123lexusrox123 - 3/31/2008 12:40:18 PM
+1 Boost
^^^just what i was gonna say...

does vw think it can beat the (2005? motortrend truck of the year) toyota tacoma with their first truck???? idk, but honda did well with their first truck, the ridgeline (2006 motortrend truck of the year).

but really, a VW truck? i dont know. (i hope its not ugly)


Homer008Homer008 - 3/31/2008 2:29:23 PM
+3 Boost
Toyota Tundra was also the 2008 Truck of the year..not sure which magzine..i think it was a m/t.


Homer008Homer008 - 3/31/2008 2:31:24 PM
+4 Boost
TOLD YOU! I BEEN TELLING YOU IT WAS 6X6 IN-N-OUT OF BURGER NOT 20 MCGRIDDLES I BEEN EATING EVERY MORNING ON MY VW.


lexusrox123lexusrox123 - 3/31/2008 1:12:47 PM
+2 Boost
The whole thought of it is utterly hilarious!


goojmangoojman - 3/31/2008 2:05:20 PM
+4 Boost
VW's are famously unreliable. They will never make inroads in the US market until they make huge gains in reliability. US consumers have so many other options and can't be bothered having to constantly take their VW back to the delaer because of the incessant ringing and chiming of warning lights telling you something is wrong with the car.


Homer008Homer008 - 3/31/2008 2:25:41 PM
+6 Boost
VW sold trucks in the U.S. back in 70's I do believe but their sales were always low due to their unreliable engines and rusty bodies. You'll NEVER see a single VW truck on the road but I guarantee you know someone driving a Toyota truck with 2-3 million miles on the same engine! Not that's what VW has to overcome.."unreliable reputation". having said that, VW is 1) wayeee too late in the game 2) a new comer such as this VW truck has to prove and earn respect from the Toyotas, Nissans and Hondas..not to mention challenge w/a full sized trucks..which I can't even fathom VW will build. Toyota is getting ready to roll a dually soon..Now..VW has some loooonnnnng way of catching upto do..but my guess is that this is another Audiwagon propagonda. Just like Q7 hybrid fallacy.


Homer008Homer008 - 3/31/2008 2:36:43 PM
+4 Boost
Another thing: Its almost a mirror image of the Nissan's Titan!

Secondly: I had no idea Isuzu rodeo junks were still being sold in Europe LOL. Damn I thought it was already dino! LOL


NItePhireNItePhire - 3/31/2008 3:24:36 PM
+2 Boost
I do think that its a Titan or a next gen Frontier. May be VW did with Nissan what they are doing with Chrysler and the minivan. This would help Nissan move some metal and give VW instant access to the market for minimal money.


610looper610looper - 3/31/2008 2:50:07 PM
-2 Boost
Some people have forgotten toyota trucks, used to be 4 cylinders only, competing with the nissan kingcab hardbody and mazda b2200 and 2300 way back in the 80's. Toyota didn't just put out a big truck and start playing with the Big 3, hell Honda doesn't even have a real pickup. I say VW crush these hating ass 2-faced bitches


lexusrox123lexusrox123 - 3/31/2008 7:26:28 PM
+2 Boost
tut-tut! watch your language there kid...nobody likes a foul mouth in our forums!


chewychewy - 4/1/2008 12:15:33 AM
-1 Boost
that's what many pickups are used for anyways

The Robust will likely haul plenty



andrazandraz - 4/1/2008 3:43:02 AM
-1 Boost
If anyone knows and respects quality, thats europe. At least compared to americans. And VW is very highly respected for overall quality, much higher than any japanise product. In europe that is.


truckmentruckmen - 4/1/2008 4:45:47 AM
+3 Boost
VW will never rival anyone in the truck department for a long time if ever with there poor quality in North America, I have no hope for this POS half car truck.
Copyright 2026 AutoSpies.com, LLC