Future models plans for all of the Volkswagen Group’s passenger car brands are being covered in this latest series of articles. First off, it was a look at Volkswagen itself with a round up of what’s available now and what’s ahead for VW cars. This is now followed by a feature concerning pick-ups and MPVs. Another, which concentrates on electrified models, crossovers and SUVs, is to come.

Pick-ups

The Saveiro (‘Sah-VAY-ru’) is a pick-up version of the Gol (hatchback) and Voyage (sedan). It was launched in Brazil, where it is built, in August 2009.

The sole North American market is Mexico: it went on sale there in March 2010. Until its launch in Brazil, some sources had claimed that the model would be called ‘Arena’. In Brazil, meanwhile, VW added the Saveiro Cross in February 2010. This variant has unique bumpers, roof rails and wheelarch extensions, giving it an off-road look.

VW exhibited a sports version of the Saveiro, the Rocket concept, at the São Paulo motor show in October 2010 but nothing came of it.

A facelifted Saveiro went on sale in Brazil and Mexico in the third quarter of 2013. The Saveiro Surf concept was revealed at the Sao Paulo motor show in October 2014.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

VW gave the Saveiro a second facelift in March 2016. In the Mexican market, this was new for the 2017 model year. The next Saveiro should go into production at Anchieta/São Bernardo do Campo (SBC) in the state of São Paulo in 2019. Its architecture should be MQB A0.

Volkswagen do Brasil is developing an additional pick-up. This will be sized above the Saveiro and below the Amarok, so probably around 4.5m long. It is expected to be based on MQB A/B. Production should commence in late 2019, which will likely be only a few months before the arrival of the Amarok 2.

The Amarok is a 1-tonne rival for the Mitsubishi L200/Triton, Toyota Hilux and others in that segment. It was launched in Argentina, the country where it was first built, in early 2010.

There are both pure commercial and more luxurious-equipped passenger vehicle versions of the Amarok. General Pacheco in Argentina was initially the only build location, with production having started there in December 2009.

The Amarok has a ladder frame construction and debuted a then-new Volkswagen Group platform. A double-cab was the first bodystyle, with a single-cab following from mid-2011.

The first variants of the Amarok dual-cab were powered by a 120kW (163hp) 2.0-litre diesel engine and four-wheel drive. A 90kW (122hp) diesel followed from H2, 2010. A six-speed manual gearbox was for a long time the only transmission but an eight-speed automatic gearbox debuted at the Frankfurt motor show in September 2011, as did a 132kW version of the existing 2.0-litre diesel. Amarok base versions have rear-wheel drive, but switchable all-wheel drive (AWD) and full-time AWD are also available.

Variants for Germany, South Africa and Australia were launched in those markets in early 2011. Sales in Brazil commenced in April 2010 and in Mexico, the only market for the vehicle in North America, in September 2010.

In October 2011, Volkswagen revealed that to meet anticipated extra demand for the Amarok, it would begin building the vehicle at its Hanover plant from mid-2012. Pilot production got underway in May 2012, with series production following one month later. The German-built model is the dual-cab body only and these vehicles are for markets in Europe and most of Africa: the Pacheco plant in Argentina now mostly supplies markets in the Americas.

Volkswagen of America continues to rule out launching the Amarok there. The division believes the vehicle’s size makes it unsuitable for the local market. That might well change once the next generation model is released. It would, however, mean a lot of work and cost to install a new line at either Chattanooga or Puebla for the production of a separate-chassis vehicle. Not to mention the Volkswagen brand’s lack of presence in the segment which is currently dominated by the Toyota Tacoma.

The Amarok is another VW model which is assembled by VW’s partner in Nigeria.

A facelifted Amarok was announced in May 2016. As well as the styling changes, a V6 TDI joined the existing 2.0-litre diesel. The 3.0-litre diesel is available with the choice of three outputs: 120kW/163hp, 150kW/204hp and 165kW/224hp.

Two partners of the Volkswagen Group began assembly of the Amarok in Ecuador from September 2017. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles supplies FISUM with CKD parts from VW’s plants in both Germany and Argentina for the operation at local contract manufacturer AYMESA, an affiliate of FISUM. Up to 2,000 vehicles a year can be assembled at the plant in Quito, although this could be expanded to as many as 10,000 a year.

The second generation Amarok is again expected to be built in Argentina and Europe, and assembled in Nigeria and Ecuador, with a chance that production in the USA or Mexico could also be added. There should be four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. Production is due to commence in early 2020.

MPVs

The Suran, an ancient small MPV, is sold mostly in South America. It is based upon the Fox and built in Argentina. Production started in February 2006 and sales two months later. In Brazil, where sales also started in April 2006, the model is known as the SpaceFox, while versions for Mexico, now discontinued there, were badged ‘SportVan’.

Compared with the Fox hatchback, this model is 380mm longer and has the same 1,500mm height but a slightly longer wheelbase.

There was a facelift in June 2010 and another one in October 2014, the latter debuting at the Sao Paulo motor show.

Argentina’s Suran Cross and Brazil’s Space Cross, the same vehicle, are closely related to the Suran/SpaceFox.

The successors to the Volkswagen Caddy People, Caddy Life and Caddy Maxi MPV had their world premieres at the Geneva motor show in March 2015 and were in German dealerships three months later. The Caddy Alltrack, the replacement for the CrossCaddy, had its world premiere at the Frankfurt IAA in September 2015. These LCV-based MPVs are especially popular in the German market. All are due for a facelift in 2020 and another in 2023. The next generation models likely won’t appear until 2026. These should again be based on MQB A/B, although it would be a heavily updated version of that by then aged architecture.

VN379 has recently had a facelift. This model, which is the SportsVan in many countries and the Golf SV in some, replaced the Golf Plus from mid-2014.

Compared to the Golf Plus, the Sportsvan has 74 more litres of boot capacity. This is 498 litres (versus the Golf’s 380 litres), with the back seats at their rear-most position. Moving the rear seats forwards increases the luggage capacity to 585 litres, while folding the rear seats liberates up to 1,512 litres of room. The front passenger seat can optionally fold fully forward, creating a load space which is up to 2,484 mm long.

Build takes place at two locations: Wolfsburg, and by FAW Volkswagen at its Changchun plant.

The second generation Touran had its public debut at the Geneva motor show in March 2015, European market deliveries commencing from the October. There are both five- and seven-seat versions. The car is 12cm longer than the first generation model and also has a longer wheelbase.

China’s Touran is built and sold there as the Touran L. It doesn’t have a longer wheelbase than the rest of the world’s model; the L is merely to distinguish it from the first generation model, which remains in local production. A crossover version, which is simply the Touran L with raised suspension, was added to the Chinese market range from April 2017. This is the CrossTouran L.

SAIC Volkswagen updated the first generation Touran in November 2016, giving the car a 1.6-litre engine as standard. The more expensive Touran L instead has the more modern 1.4 TSI and 1.8 TSI engines. The older model, which has been made in China since 2010 (European build was from 2003-2015), will be phased out by 2019.

The Touran, Touran L and CrossTouran L will be discontinued in 2021, as will the Sportsvan/Golf SV. Due as much to a cost cutting programme as to a reflection of declining sales for MPVs, the Touran and Sportsvan/Golf SV will be replaced by one model in 2021. This will be a crossover-MPV which is rumoured to be called VarioSport. It will use MQB A/B and be manufactured in Germany and China.

The second generation Sharan is a larger vehicle than the original. It is also wider and lower but slightly lighter. Its global debut was at the Geneva motor show in March 2010, so production is now slowing and a new model isn’t that far off.

The SEAT Alhambra is the Sharan’s twin and is built alongside it at the Volkswagen Group’s Autoeuropa plant in the Portuguese municipality of Palmela. The Sharan and Alhambra went on sale across Europe from August 2010.

A facelifted Sharan premiered at the Geneva motor show in March 2015. Both petrol (TSI) and diesel (TDI) engines were redesigned. The turbocharged direct-injection engines are claimed to be up to 15 percent more fuel-efficient, and all conform to the Euro-6 emissions standard. The two TSI engines produce 110kW / 150PS and 162kW / 220PS. The power of the strongest petrol engine is increased by 15kW / 20PS. The diesel engines are offered with three power levels: 85kW / 115PS, 110kW / 150PS (gain of 10PS) and 135kW / 184PS (gain of 7PS). All engines (except the 85kW TDI) may be combined with a 6-speed dual clutch gearbox (DSG), which now also enables the fuel-saving coasting function (decoupling of the engine from the drivetrain when foot is taken off the accelerator pedal).

The next generation Sharan is expected to enter production during 2018 alongside the successor for the Alhambra. Both models will be MQB A/B vehicles.

The latest generation Caravelle, a minibus, is based on the same architecture as the previous generation T5 series model. In fact, it looks like a major facelift of the T5. The T6 family of vehicles was revealed to the media at an event in Amsterdam in April 2015.

The line-up is as follows:

  • Transporter (light commercial van)
  • Caravelle (aimed at businesses, families and outdoor sports enthusiasts)
  • Kombi and Shuttle (minibuses for commercial and private use)
  • California (camper)
  • Multivan PanAmericana (higher ride height)

All engines have four cylinders, a capacity of 2.0 litres and are transversely mounted and angled forwards by eight degrees. The diesels deliver 62kW / 84PS, 75kW / 102PS, 110kW / 150PS and 150kW / 204PS, or 110kW / 150PS and 150kW / 204PS for the petrols.

The Caravelle had its public debut at the Istanbul motor show in May 2015. The California was announced the following month and went on sale immediately. In the German market, it is available in three derivatives: Beach, Coast or Ocean. The Multivan PanAmericana, a preview of a possible crossover variant, was revealed at the Frankfurt IAA in September 2015. The production model followed at the Geneva motor show in March 2016.

The next update for the T6 range will be facelifts in 2021. Although the T7 series isn’t due until 2027, given that the T6 was not a truly new model, the replacement might well appear in 2024 or 2025.

JAC JV

Nothing is set in stone, but the Volkswagen Group recently stated that VW Commercial Vehicles is in talks with Anhui Jianghuai Automobile (JAC) over potentially co-developing MPVs or LCVs. This would be the second JV for the partners, following an earlier one for EVs. There will be on the latter in the next chapter.

Future model plan reports for other manufacturers can be viewed in the OEM product strategy summaries section of just-auto.com.

Future product program intelligence

Additional data on vehicle lifetime and future product plans, such as code names, production plants and expected annual build, are available in PLDB from QUBE.