Volkswagen pick-up concept with Aussie appeal
A concept based on the forthcoming Robust LCV has gone on display at German's IAA expo in HanoverThis is the vehicle with the potential to take Volkswagen beyond its status of leading European automotive importer in Australia. The concept car in these pics is a firm indication of how the new Robust pick-up will look when it reaches production -- and the new model may well be very important to the Australian market. Is it any surprise that the show car was built with Australian surf-lifesaving in mind?
As reported previously (more here and here), the Robust could add thousands of units in sales volumes to Volkswagen Australia's annual tally. If the light commercial vehicle really takes off, the Robust could possibly account for as much as half of Volkswagen's local sales in any given year.
The concept car (pictured here with Stephan Schaller, CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and two other board members) was presented in Hanover for the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show as a dual-cab model kitted out for use by emergency services. Styling cues from the Golf VI and new Scirocco have been adopted for this commercial vehicle also.
Since it's 5.18 metres long and 1.9 metres wide, the pick-up will accept a standard European-sized pallet, if loaded sideways. The concept vehicle is powered by a common-rail turbodiesel driving all four wheels and a GPS-based satellite navigation system allows manual input of location data. Volkswagen suggests that such a vehicle would be ideal for locating lost surfers in need of saving, based on their last-known location.
Other features of the concept include a multi-function touch screen for map displays and satellite images of offroad terrain, an extensive first aid kit (including a defibrillator?!), headlining storage for safety helmets, flashlights next to the front seats, a compass and a CB radio. The pick-up is not just a platform for emergency services scenarios though, it also comes with climate control and saltwater-resistant interior trim.
Volkswagen has officially confirmed with the unveiling of the 'search and rescue' concept that the production pick-up model will be introduced to Australia -- among the first markets to receive it -- come the end of 2009.
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