Volkswagen India Creates Rugged Truck From A Boring Sedan And Crossover

While Volkswagen USA customers can purchase various crossovers and SUVs like the Atlas and Taos, there are no pickup truck options; elsewhere, consumers can opt for the Amarok. The pickup truck seen here isn’t the desirable Amarok, but rather a design concept called the Pickup Truck Concept. Built by a talented team of students through the Student Car Project, this one-off is a combination of the Taigun crossover and the Virtus (Polo) sedan.

This isn’t just a happy-go-lucky project. It took more than nine months to develop and build the Pickup Truck, with the process starting from the market analysis and development, to car testing. Because of the unique nature of the build, the students involved in the project had to design and 3D print custom parts, even though the vehicle is based on two existing VW India products.

One-Of-A-Kind Styling

While the styling is quirky – the rear overhang is incredibly long – it does highlight the skill and talent these students have demonstrated. Other parts fitted to the Pickup Truck include accessories that will enhance its off-road capability. This includes off-road tires, underbody protection, and roof-mounted lights – perfect for venturing off-road once the sun knocks off for the evening.

The Taigun’s cutesy styling has been made more rugged by the addition of chunky fender flares and a snorkel. Eye-catching graphics, finished in orange, add a much-needed pop of color to the gray paintwork. Perhaps the only fly in the Pickup Truck’s ointment is the clunky rear overhang but, to be fair, this can’t be helped. The Virtus already has long overhangs (to accommodate the large trunk) so form follows function in this case, providing the concept with a sizeable bed.

Not The Only Student-Built VW Project

Throughout the project, the students received mentoring from skilled professionals at Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited. This included introducing them to suppliers and experts, allowing the students to bring their original ideas to fruition. Over the years, the Volkswagen Group has afforded students many opportunities to flex their creative muscles, with unique builds popping up from all over the world. In 2022, German-based students created the ID.5-based Xcite concept, a sporty one-off boasting Lamborghini paint and a custom interior. And while the Virtus-based four-door convertible crafted by VW Brazil wasn’t built by students, it’s arguably just as interesting as the Pickup Truck and the Xcite concepts.

Getting back to the Pickup Truck concept, it’s unlikely to ever reach production, but recently uncovered trademarks point towards another pickup on the horizon, adding to the small Saveiro sold in some South American countries and the aforementioned Amarok. Tipped to use the Udara nameplate, this newcomer could take the fight to the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz and is expected to arrive sometime in 2026. Whether it reaches US shores remains to be seen, but at least VW will give us a pickup via the Scout nameplate.