Volkswagen reveals their Tanoak double cab bakkie!

By Chad Lückhoff

International motor shows are awash with special unveilings and sneak peeks at concept vehicles that may or may not make their way into production. The recent New York International Auto Show was no different and it was Volkswagen that set tongues a-wagging with a preview of the Atlas Tanoak pickup truck.

Based on similar architecture to the US-only Atlas 7-seater, the Tanoak is listed as a large midsize pickup truck, which would make it larger than most South African bakkies, and larger than the Amarok. The Tanoak is 18.4cm longer than the local Amarok and 18.7cm taller, with a ground clearance of 24.9cm over the Amaroks 23.9cm.

The Tanoak employs the Volkswagen MQB modular platform and shows the versatility of the design with the Tanoak the largest vehicle designed with an MQB architecture.

The exterior retains all the robust design cues that are found to be appealing to customers looking for double cab bakkies/pickups with a large front grille and black bumper element, highlighted by LED daytime running lights and rolling under the front end with a purposeful-looking aluminium coloured bash plate. The rear carries the circular LED theme with red lighting running the length of the upper and lower sections of the low-hinged tailgate. The side profile carries a distinctive C-moulding, separating the 1.6m load bin from the cabin.

It's designed as a spacious 5-seater with a sporty approach, packed with technology and digital interfaces to replace traditional hardware. Featuring both a touchscreen infotainment system and Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, the Tanoak breaks away from the traditional interfaces associated with double cab bakkies. Despite this, it retains large controls for things like the 4MOTION Active Control so that work glove-wearing drivers can still operate certain functions without frustration.

Power comes from a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 205kW (276hp) and 360Nm, mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox and 4MOTION all-wheel-drive with Active Control to allow the driver to select the best torque distribution based on the terrain conditions.

Although there is no current plan to put the Tanoak into production, Volkswagen is using the concept to gauge public interest and feedback, especially in the US with the success of the Ford F150. If the local interest in the Mercedes-Benz X-Class is anything to go by, there should be considerable interest in the Tanoak on our shores too.