Does Volkswagen have eyes on entering the competitive pickup truck market in the United States? According to the press release announcing its Tarok concept taking the stage at this year's New York Auto Show, there are no imminent plans for a VW truck to come stateside. You can bet, however, that executives are keenly interested in seeing how New Yorkers respond to the butch concept – especially since it will enter production for the Brazilian market.
The Tarok concept actually debuted in Brazil last November at the Sau Paolo International Motor Show, and it garnered quite a bit of attention. Classified as a compact truck, it packs a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing a modest 147 horsepower (110 kilowatts) that sends power to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox.
In place of a traditional four-wheel-drive system, the Tarok uses a full-time 4Motion all-wheel-drive setup with various settings for a range of conditions. Hardcore truck buyers might be skeptical of such a system, but VW says the Tarok is plenty capable off the beaten path with an approach angle of 23.8 inches, a departure angle of 26.4 inches, and 9.6 inches of ground clearance.
The Tarok's party piece, however, is its configurable bed and interior. Similar to the Chevrolet Avalanche of old, the Tarok can extend its smallish four-foot bed into the greenhouse by opening a panel and folding the rear seats. That increases the bed length to just over six feet – nearly identical to what you find on most full-size pickups.
