Volkswagen believes
it could build a pickup truck like the Tarok Concept shown off at the New York
Auto Show, and price it in the mid-$20,000 range. The German car manufacturer
reportedly intends on building a road-going version of the Tarok Concept for
the South American market, yet technical details about this vehicle, and
whether or not it will also be sold in the United States, remain unconfirmed.
However, while
speaking with journalists in New York, Volkswagen of America chief executive
Scott Keogh admitted that the brand sees an opportunity with a pickup like the
Tarok – to create something affordable and appealing to customers.
Pressed on how much
a U.S.-bound Tarok pickup could cost, Keogh said, “I think you could put a
vehicle like that in the marketplace in the mid-$20,000, with proper engine,
proper everything.”
Underpinning the
Tarok Concept is the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, although it’s possible
that a production version would share its underpinnings with a Ford. Of course,
the MQB underpinnings seem most likely, with Keogh saying it would give the VW
a lot of flexibility.
