At a rural fair in Argentina (2008 Expoagro), Volkswagen displayed a side-view rendering of its future medium-size pickup.
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Nothing too revealing, yet it was a reminder that it will be built in Brazil’s neighbour country from 2009.
The prototypes are under development in Germany, although the Brazilian subsidiary has been participating actively in the process.
Several prototypes have been air freighted in locked containers between Wolfsburg and São Bernardo do Campo, state of São Paulo, where VW has built one the biggest technical centres outside Germany.
Ongoing speculation says the Touareg is the inspiration for the new truck, somewhat like the AAC concept presented at the Detroit show.
However, for now, road testing is taking place only in Europe; the pickup will also be built there.
Unofficial ‘spy shots’ in the media show that Volkswagen is disguising the test mules with Toyota Hilux-like styling.
Between 1989 and 1997 the automaker produced a Hilux derivative called the Taro for some markets as well as building Toyota versions.
The new truck, currently known as the RPU (for Robust PickUp) will have a higher payload than direct Mercosur competitors which include the Hilux, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi L200, Nissan Frontier, a Mahindra and the upcoming Fiat-Tata Xenon. The RPU is likely to carry up to 1,500kg compared to rivals’ 1,000kg (one tonne) payload.
That will see it compete with the Brazilian-built F-250, the only large-size pickup currently built in the Mercosur region, at Ford’s São Bernardo do Campo plant, also the home of the unique new South American Ka.
Volkswagen decided to fight on all fronts with single and double cab, 4×4 and 4×2, petrol and diesel versions of its new truck and there also is talk of an RPU-derived SUV for late 2010.
The planned investment in Argentina’s Pacheco plant will total $223m and create 2,000 new, direct jobs for an estimated 40,000 units per year output initially.
Fernando Calmon
