Volkswagen Pickup concept

By Mark Nichol

24th September 2008

Volkswagen is on a search and rescue mission! This is VW’s new Pickup concept, penned by a team led by ex-Audi design chief Walter de Silva, and set to go into production at the end of this year.

When the Pickup hits showrooms early next year it will be the first of its type in Volkswagen’s lineup, joining the Caddy, Transporter and Crafter in the German maker’s commercial vehicles stable.

The concept you see here is dressed up as a search and rescue (SAR) vehicle, but look through the decoration and you’ll see VW’s answer to pickups like the Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi L200 and Toyota Hilux. The newcomer’s combination of sharp styling and VW’s fabled bombproof quality should ensure it creates a real stir among these established rivals.

Set to debut at the IAA commercial vehicles show in Hanover this week, the Pickup will be powered exclusively by familiar turbodiesel engines, though VW has yet to confirm exactly which they’ll be. A five-cylinder 2.5-litre TDI unit in various states of tune is likely, with outputs ranging between 108bhp and 161bhp.

Tell us about your car in our Driver Power survey.