- Volkswagen is currently debating a new pickup truck, but it would need to share components with an existing model and use a unibody construction.
- The automaker confirmed it will not import the ID.1 and ID.2, a pair of affordable EVs arriving in Europe in the next couple of years, to the U.S.
- A successor to the current Atlas is on the way and could be shown as soon as next year.
Volkswagen has gradually shifted away from cars towards an SUV-heavy lineup. The Jetta soldiers on, and the Golf lives on in the GTI and R-branded performance variants, but VW has increasingly focused on SUVs in the United States. Over in Europe, however, VW is planning a line of small, affordable EVs, opening the possibility for new entry-level models in the U.S. At a roundtable interview at the New York auto show, Kjell Gruner, president and CEO of the Volkswagen Group of America, shot down this possibility but shed some light on future Volkswagen products for the U.S. market, including a potential pickup truck.A Possible Unibody Pickup TruckVolkswagen has teased several truck concepts over the years, such as the 2018 Atlas Tanoak and the 2019 Tarok, but has yet to commit to putting one into production. The potential for a VW pickup is still on the table, however. “That’s one of the growth options we are discussing,” Gruner said. While no official decision has been made, “that’s a discussion we are having this year.”VolkswagenThe 2018 VW Atlas Tanoak concept.”We need to find the synergies with other vehicles we have in the market, from the platform side, the manufacturing side, to make it viable,” Gruner explained. We wouldn’t be surprised to see it based on something like the Atlas SUV, like the Tanoak concept. The truck will also most likely not be a body-on-frame vehicle, differentiating it from the EVs and plug-in hybrids set to be launched by VW-backed Scout Motors.”Trucks can be body-on-frame, but they don’t have to be,” Gruner said. “Especially if you look at battery-electric vehicles, I would argue you don’t need body-on-frame because you have rigidity anyway from the skateboard platforms.” If Volkswagen does follow through with an electric powertrain for its pickup truck, Gruner says it would almost definitely have a range-extender gas engine to replenish the battery on the go. “For a pickup truck, I think that’s what consumers would want.”No Small Cars, but More Big SUVsUnfortunately, Gruner confirmed that we shouldn’t expect any smaller, more affordable EVs in the U.S. anytime soon. Volkswagen recently showed the ID.Every1 concept, an adorable little electric hatch expected to start under $22,000 in Europe when it goes into production in 2027. The ID.1 will slot below the ID.2, previewed by the ID.2all concept, and is expected to start around $25,000. VolkswagenBut Gruner dismissed the idea of bringing these entry-level products to the U.S. “These products are too slow [for the U.S. market],” he said. And since they would need to be imported from Europe, “you would just end up with a niche product that is too expensive for what it does.”Instead, VW will continue bolstering its SUV lineup. “There’s going to be an Atlas successor, obviously, coming out,” Gruner confirmed. The Atlas has been in production since 2018, most recently refreshed for 2024. Gruner stated that the Atlas successor will still be gas-powered, although it will likely add a hybrid powertrain at a later date. Another VW representative suggested that this next-generation SUV will be revealed next year. VolkswagenThe 2024 VW Atlas Peak Edition.The Peak Edition, an off-road-focused trim introduced on the Atlas for the 2024 model year, could also proliferate throughout Volkswagen’s lineup. “Personally, I am a big fan of these,” said Gruner. “I think it works really well for the Atlas, but I could see that in different vehicles, most importantly in our SUVs. That is something I believe American consumers want, and we’re working on that.” We wouldn’t be shocked to see the Peak Edition appear on the Tiguan in the near future.More VW NewsCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Source: caranddriver.com
