Audi considering its first ute
German luxury brand could produce a dual-cab 4x4 ute to rival the Toyota HiLuxAudi has revealed it is considering a pick-up truck that could rival Australia’s most popular vehicles including the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
Speaking to journalists at the German car-maker’s annual financials press conference, Audi CEO Markus Duesmann said internal studies are already underway to investigate the feasibility of what would be Audi’s first ute.
“I can't promise that we will do one, but we are looking into it,” Duesmann told Autocar.
“Actually, we will present – not too far from now – maybe something,” he added, suggesting that a concept vehicle previewing such a ground-breaking model could be imminent.
That’s far from confirmation that an Audi ute will grace showrooms anywhere – or any time soon – given the average development time for new luxury cars remains about five years.
But it’s possible Audi could simply offer a more stylised version of the second-generation 2023 Volkswagen Amarok, which is currently under development alongside the next-generation Ford Ranger on which it is based, given its position within the Volkswagen Group and the precedent set by the short-lived Mercedes-Benz X-Class, based on the Nissan Navara.
Perhaps the bigger question, however, is what would power the first Audi ute, given the Ingolstadt brand has committed to releasing its final petrol- and diesel-powered models by 2026, before going all-electric by 2032.
The 2022 Ford Ranger – and by extension the 2023 VW Amarok – are package-protected for mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, but so far there’s no sign of an all-electric Ranger/Amarok emerging in the forthcoming generation that will remain on sale well beyond 2030.
So if Audi does produce a ute at all, it will either be a traditional diesel-powered 4x4 dual-cab based on the Amarok within the next few years, or an all-electric pick-up based on a clean-sheet design that would rival the likes of the Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning and GMC Hummer.
Watch this space.
Related: New Volkswagen Amarok teased again
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