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Volkswagen Tarok: Australian launch is a ‘no’

Local arm reckons upcoming small pick-up lacks the capacity or grunt Aussie buyers desire.


The Volkswagen Tarok ute isn’t big enough or powerful enough for the Australian market, according to the German brand’s local arm.

The Tarok was revealed in early November as a concept virtually ready for production, and ready to sit below the company’s full-size Amarok ute that’s been on sale since 2011.

Volkswagen Australia, however, is playing down its interest in the smaller ute despite the Amarok’s success.

“Utes in this country are about capacity in the back and under the bonnet, and the Tarok offers neither,” said Volkswagen Australia spokesman, Paul Pottinger. “So, no [it’s unlikely to come here]."

“It’s the commercial world’s equivalent of micro cars,” he added.

Pottinger says the Amarok is selling because of the number of cylinders under its bonnet before buyers even consider its class-leading tray capacity.

“V6 engines are accounting for 80 per cent of Amarok sales, and most of those are the higher variants [such as the new 190kW Ultimate 580],” he said.

Four-cylinder Amaroks continue to be considered an important part of the mix, and therefore rule out one possible point of difference for the Tarok.

The Tarok will initially feature a 110kW 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine in conjunction with 4Motion all-wheel drive. The Tarok show vehicle was powered by a 1.4-litre turbo petrol with the same power output.

Media images at least point to the Tarok’s ability to fit in with the Aussie lifestyle. One photo showcases a surfboard being stowed via the Tarok’s distinctive variable load area (above).

The Tarok’s tray is only 1.2 metres long compared with the Amarok’s tub that leads its class with a 1.6m length, yet the five-seater cabin features a clever folding lower rear panel that extends the floor to 1.86 metres with the rear seats folded.

A Euro-sized pallet can’t be accommodated like the Amarok, though the width between the wheel-arches comfortably exceeds a metre (1090mm).

Volkswagen also quotes a 1030kg maximum load capacity for the Tarok, which marginally exceeds some versions of the Amarok.

At 4.9 metres long, the Tarok isn’t significantly shorter than the Amarok that is 5.2 metres upwards, though its exterior and interior design point to a greater lifestyle focus.

The concept’s digital-heavy dash, closely related in design to the fascia of the Polo city car, included Volkswagen’s Active Info Display digital instrument cluster, along with a version of the company’s latest central infotainment unit.

The Volkswagen Tarok is set to make its production debut in Brazil, where it will be positioned between the Tiguan Allspace SUV and Amarok ute.

Do you agree with Volkswagen Au's stance regarding the Tarok?

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