Volkswagen unveils the Atlas Tanoak concept

By Colin Windell

With nearly 450 000 bakkies sold in the US last year, it is one of the biggest – and growing – segments and a good reason for Volkswagen to be looking to get involved, which it has with the unveiling of the concept Atlas Tanoak recently.

The Atlas Tanoak Concept is designed as a dual cab, five-seat configuration with a short bed. Its dimensions and unibody platform, as opposed to the traditional body-on-frame for bakkies, positions the Atlas Tanoak Concept as a midsize pickup akin to the Honda Ridgeline.

The pickup rides on the Modular Transverse Matrix global architecture platform, or MQB. The MQB platform is used for Volkswagen models as varied as the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport Concept SUVs and the Jetta and Golf sedans. The Tanoak is the first pickup truck to be fitted to the MQB.

Although Volkswagen says there are no plans to build the vehicle and the concept is just to gauge public opinion at this stage. However, it already has the Atlas SUV in the market and it would make sense to build the pickup at the Chattanooga facility.

Amarok is not sold in the US as it would attract a hefty import duty, making it uncompetitive in the sector, whereas the Tanoak would escape this via local manufacture.

Powered by a 205 kW V6 FSI petrol engine, the Atlas Tanoak uses an eight-speed automatic transmission and the 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system.

The Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak bakkie, named after a species of tree that is native to the Pacific Coast in the US, is a large midsize pickup by US standards. The concept vehicle is 202 cm wide and 184 cm tall, with a wheelbase of 325 cm.

The body of the concept vehicle has been raised nearly 5 cm compared to the Atlas SUV, yielding ground clearance of25 cm.

Designed as a dual-cab, five-seater, the Atlas Tanoak pickup has a cargo bed that allows for easy transport of cargo such as bikes or surfboards with the tailgate in place and ATVs and dirt bikes with the tailgate down.

The spare wheel is located under the cargo bed, making it accessible even when fully loaded.

The instruments, center console and multifunction steering wheel are heavily redesigned from the Atlas SUV. The majority of functions, including the air-conditioning, are operated digitally in the Tanoak. The touchscreen infotainment system is positioned high up for easy operation, almost alongside the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit.

Both these screens and the controls for the air conditioning merge to form a digitalised cockpit environment. Ambient lighting integrated into the instrument panel and the roofline console immerse the interior in yellow or blue light at night, depending on whether the vehicle is in Off-road or City mode.

In the US market, Toyota leads, with sales of almost 200 000 Tacomas last year. Chevrolet is the only other brand that sells more than 100 000 midsize pickups annually.

Ford will launch sales of the 2019 Ranger midsize pickup later this year. The automaker, which sold almost 900 000 full size F-Series pickups last year, is expected to aggressively market the Ranger.