Considering The Detroit 3's Track Record On Giving Away Segments, Should VW Bring The Tanoak Pickup To The US?

1. The crossover-pickup market is bound to happen and to become big.

2. The Hyundai Santa Cruz--I think--is the correct template and the Honda Ridgeline is not.

3. GM and Ford will respond eventually with an El Camino and Ranchero respectively.

4. A LWB Renegade pickup would be a genius move.

5. Asian companies will respond effectively.

6. In 2033, VW will get into the market after its saturated to hell and back and will arrive with something that costs too much and is in no way a class-leading design.

7. VW is incapable of getting ahead of the ball, and delivering a class-leading design with quality and reliability at an appropriate price.

I think VW should indeed do it - and NOT include a diesel option as well. THe quicker they lose more money - the quicker that they will leave the US market altogether.

Not unless they want to be a fringe player.

Of all the vehicles ever posted here, the Tanoak concept has to be the most over-designed.

Agree 100%. VW over-designs and then wonders why they can't build it to an appropriate price. VW is also notorious for concept after concept after concept, but never going to production.

On a tangent, there's an extreme disconnect at VW between the concept development department and the production development department. It's kind of like how Cadillac can do the gorgeous Ciel, Elmiraj, and Escala for the show circuit--all three would be easy to productionize--but instead we get dowdy crap like the CT6, XT5, XT4, and the coming CT5 and the LMNOP7.

Think about VW's show cars and imagine how far along they would be if they just made the damned things.

It's a concept!

Although the Tanoak is a concept...

Consider the GMC Denali XT (full size) or the Dodge Rampage (mid size) concepts. Both very interesting concepts that would be positively welcomed today.

VW has a real chance as consumer begin to see more Atlas CUVs. I'd consider the shorter version of the VW full-sizer. Chrysler/Dodge/Ram isn't even in the full-size SUV/CUV market - which is completely mind-boggling - as the Ram pickups have been around forever & a SUV platform variant was never put into production. There is capacity for competition that meets the (US) standard AND is sure to add either rugged options or upscale options to further entice consumers.

Oh & engine options are extremely important as well. turbo-4-cyl, turbo-6cyl, V8 options is where they should start.

I agree. VW has been playing around with its van concept for years. If they had a brain they would have built it with a turbo four, sold it, and would have made plenty of bucks on it. They need to import an American manager from either the big 3 or Toyota or Nissan and let that individual dictate the product line in the US. Wolfsburg simple needs to acknowledge that its failed and doesn't know squat when it comes to the US market. Once they can come to this realization they might begin to be successful here. I will say its an interesting approach they have taken with the new Jetta. Biggest in its class and a ride like a Buick. In spite of its reliability issues it should sell ok.

I love this concept