Volkswagen slams down Varok ute concept

It's all too easy to jump on a forum and criticise a car as "horrid" or "derivative" when a new vehicle emerges with either an adventurous or tamely familiar design. Indeed, keyboard warriors often unite in their denigration of new-look models, whether they're boring or exciting.

But such comments are devoid of significance, because styling is in the eye of the beholder, as demonstrated by this striking Volkswagen Varok concept, which is bound to get toungues wagging and commenters commenting.Designed and computer modelled by a couple of former Volkswagen interns, who put their money where their mouths are to come up with it, the head-turning Varok concept pays homage to Volkswagen's mid-1960s Type 3 Variant, a rather handsome three-door wagon.

It features a removable rear roof section -- some might call it a hard canopy -- that transforms the three-door wagon into a ute, or pick-up as the rest of the world calls them.

In their design research for the Varok project, French design students Valentin Fuchs and Pierre Joveneaux leaned heavily on Aussie utes -- namely the Ford Falcon Ute and Holden (Commodore) Ute in FPV and HSV guises -- to come up with the design, which is futuristic to say the least.

Unlike the Amarok, Volkswagen's first attempt at a global one-tonne ute to rival Toyota's HiLux, there are influences from shooting brake vehicles too.

Naturally the whole shebang has a strong Volkswagen flavour, with lots of angles and accent lines, plus a sporty, low-slung ride height and large "look at me" alloy wheels.

As well as being purpose-built for active lifestyles – think kayaking, surfing and mountain-biking in ute mode – the roof and reworked tub transforms the vehicle into a five-seat vehicle with room for luggage.

"The goal of this project was to imagine how Volkswagen could enter in the Australian market with a ute vehicle," said Valentin.

Volkswagen Australia, the ball's in your court!