Aussie input aids VW Robust ute

Local VW Australia executives managed to convince Germany to build a cab-chassis version of its new 1 tonne Robust pickup when development work started.

VW Australian director of commercial vehicles, Phil Clark, says unlike Asia, a cab-chassis variant was critical for our market.

"A lot of the other countries don't run cab-chassis," he says.

"But South Africa and ourselves are strong on cab-chassis, which some of the other markets don't need."

Clark says Australia "is a bit quirky like that".

The Robust debuted at last week's Melbourne Motor Show decked out in search and rescue livery.

However, it is likely to undergo a name change before it goes on sale here late next year after its South American launch later this year.

Clark says 95 per cent of the Melbourne show car will make it into production.

"What you see here is largely how the car will look," he says.

Clark believes the big pickup presents a big opportunity in a segment VW has never contested locally.

The Robust will sit above the Transporter and go into battle against popular Japanese competitors.

The bush-bashing VW will take aim at same market segment as the Toyota HiLux and Nissan Navara.

"We wouldn't have gone into it if we weren't going to be fully market competitive," Clark says.

"We're deadly serious about it."

Clark says the pickup market is the biggest single market in the country "bar none".

"And then you drill that down into share and there is opportunity.

"VW's commercial vehicle share is between 4000 or 5000 units now.

"The pickup market last year was about 200,000 vehicles so to get a share of that would be great."

The workhorse will draw on VW's strengths in common-rail turbo-diesel technology and its 4motion all-wheel drive system.

A petrol engine will also be available.

Clark says fuel efficiency and low emissions will be paramount.

Apart from a cab-chassis model, the pickup will be available as a four-door dual-cab with both all-wheel drive and two-wheel drive.

"We will be the only Europeans in the market," Clark says.

He has already driven a prototype in Germany and says it is more than a match for the Japanese.

VW is aiming for global sales of 100,000 a year.

Clark says the pickup's biggest potential locally is in the 4x4 dual cab segment.

"It's our biggest segment at the moment," he says.

Full pricing and specification details will be revealed closer its on sale date.