Toyota Prado's worst nightmare? The latest on the Ford Everest-based VW SUV, and why an electric car version might make it happen after all

Is a Volkswagen SUV 4x4 based on the Ford Everest coming or not? It might end up depending on where you live in the world.

Asking VW to clear up the confusion seems to be no help, as we’ve had conflicting answers to the state of play for a wagon version of the Amarok dual-cab ute.

As recently as late last year, Volkswagen Commercial product manager Petr Sulc suggested to Australian journalists at the second-generation Amarok's global launch in South Africa that an Everest-based VW SUV might see the light of day ­­– but only as an electric vehicle, raising the hopes of buyers wishing for a bit of German style to go with Australian-developed 4x4.

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“This was not the scope of the previous negotiations, so it was really what we were telling them we are not interested in,” he told CarsGuide at the time.

“Again, I can imagine that if we should approach for the battery electric vehicle, then it is [making] sense.”

However, at the Australian Amarok launch last month, VW Commercial Vehicles Australia Director, Ryan Davies, seemed pretty adamant that there are no plans for such a model, despite his desire to see one.

“Would I like to see (an SUV version of the Amarok)? Yes,” he said. “Will we see it? No. It’s not on the radar for us.”

According to Davies, an Everest-derived VW was never in the game plan with Ford, meaning the deal was strictly a ute-only proposition right from the beginning.

It is possible that an electric version of the Everest may be under development in partnership with VW.

“At the early stages of the collaboration it wasn’t in scope, and it’s still not in scope and that unfortunately that’s where we’re at,” he added.

“We have to maximise with what we’ve got with Amarok. We’re pretty happy that given the size of the market. It’s one-fifth of the total market in Australia so it’s pretty handy.”

However, while this is disappointing news for Australian VW buyers wanting a tough off-road-capable seven-seater SUV, it might not be so bad for our European readers, since Davies’ comments – specifically “… not on the radar for us” – may only apply to our part of the world.

In other words, with Europe’s increasingly stringent emissions regulations forcing the wholesale adoption of electrification over the next few years, it is possible that an electric version of the Everest may be under development in partnership with VW, to serve markets with a carbon tax.

An Everest-based VW SUV might see the light of day ­­– but only as an electric vehicle.

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According to VW Commercial Vehicles Australia Director, an Everest-derived VW was never in the game plan with Ford.

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This would be more out of necessity than anything else, because right now, every T6.2 vehicle – be it a Ranger, Everest or Amarok – are powered by comparatively thirsty diesel or petrol engines built by Ford.

Of course, if Australia gets its act together and steps up its carbon tax to match Europe’s, it could make the difference between an Everest-based VW 4x4 getting the green light or not.

Like the Ranger, the Everest for Australia is sourced out of Thailand, but it is also built in South Africa for African and European markets, alongside the Amarok II.

It seems that, given the Everest and Amarok II are made at the same facility, adding an SUV version of the latter wouldn't be too difficult.