Looks like VW couldn’t let Jeep have all the fun. The VW Atlas was only released last year, but it’s already a major hit here in the States. So it’s no surprise to see both a Cross Sport and a pickup concept being teased. Currently, VW has no plans to actually produce the Atlas Tanoak truck (we think it’s named after the California tree, but really have no idea), which is sad, really. It’s a beauty of a truck and seeing how much we already love VW’s, we’d love the chance to drive one into the desert.
At first glance, the Tanoak looks something like a Honda Ridgeline crossed with a Tundra, but with the same amount of class and styling as a luxury SUV. Think Audi, but in pickup form – which makes sense, seeing as how it is a VW. It’s a dual-cab, mid-size, Atlas-based truck with the same MQB architecture that the Atlas uses. The extended wheelbase is 11 inches longer than the Atlas, and it boasts 10 inches of ground clearance.
It’s powered by VW’s 3.6-liter, naturally aspirated V6, putting out 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Which puts it squarely in the range of the Tacoma. It’s also got 8-speed automatic transmission and 4Motion all-wheel drive.
In other words, it’s the Atlas, in pickup form. VW says it will be able to reach 60 miles per hour in 8.5 seconds.
Other than that, there’s not too much to say about it. We are sad that it will not be produced any time soon, and we’ll have to tide ourselves over by thinking about the Atlas Cross Sport. Which, to be fair, we still don’t know will go into production either. So the pictures will have to do for now.
If VW does start churning out the Atlas Tanoak, let us know. We’ll be waiting.
