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Detroit, 4:14 PM
Tue Dec 1
31 posts in the last 24 hours
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04/21/09
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04/21/09
I'm glad VW's doing this and don't see any issue hear. Automakers test their cars above the arctic circle too, even though very few will ever see service there. Pushing their performance envelope and making improvements helps us all out. And why shouldn't you expect a pickup, or any other vehicle, to handle as well as it can?
04/21/09
04/21/09
Via Nordkehre, the forest, and Schwalbenschwanz.
04/21/09
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04/21/09
They need more hot TDI action. C'mon, Volvo sells a euro spec 1.6L Diesel that gets upwards of 60 mpg, and we can't get a golf that does the same?
04/21/09
Crap. VW really seems to be considering this stupid thing. Now is NOT the time for a company like VW to be bringing out trucks. Focus on the car line, keep the product line simple and effective. survive the carpocalypse THEN come out with a bad-ass, Ford killng, GM smokin, truck that looks even better than the Tundra
04/21/09
04/21/09
I may be new here, but doesn't this "thing" already exist in America. Specifically in the form of the Ford Lighting Pickup Truck and the Ford Raptor?
04/21/09
The raptor is a Pre-Runner, some how i doubt that this VW will have any "real" off road capability.
04/21/09
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04/21/09
For you non-socialist-commie-librial-tree... huger-America-lovers:
Ve must deffend ze Alsace an Lorraine! To armors comrades, to arms! to arms! Start the revolution against ze murderous Germans! Ve vill fling our broken trim pieces at zheir stylish yet sensible automobiles!!
04/21/09
04/21/09
04/21/09
04/21/09
04/21/09
For you non-socialist-commie-librial-tree huger-America-lovers:
Ve must deffend ze Alsace an Lorraine! To armors comrades, to arms! to arms! Start the revolution against ze murderous Germans! Ve vill fling our broken trim pieces at zheir stylish yet sensible automobiles!!
04/21/09
04/20/09
04/20/09
04/21/09
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04/21/09
Not nearly as exotic and non-sensical enough.
I believe the truck's name will be the Volkswagen Korowaiguanachidna.
The love of human flesh of the Korowai tribe, the scaliness of the iguana, and the loneliness of an echidna, all rolled into a seemingly affordable, yet comparatively expensive package that always seems like heart before head.
04/21/09
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04/20/09
Seriously. Normally, when we ask about some wooden, jet powered 3- wheeled elcamino's ringtime, we're joking. This time, it's actually serious.
In other news, I'm excited about what VW is planning. I def. want to see what VW is cooking, and the US small-pickup market is as empty as my love life, with only the aged Ranger. I think this will sell well, and well in Europe.
Another step in VW's plan for world domination.
04/20/09
VW Pickup Robust. Fastest pick up truck on the Nurburgring. And it will continue to be true until someone other manufacturer runs a stock pickup.
04/20/09
This just goes to show that manufacturers are taking testing on the Nurburgring to the point of complete and utter absurdity.
It's not a Toyota X-runner-- In that case it might be relevant that it was tested on the Nurburgring-- but I mean, when will it ever be relevant that your base model pickup was Nurburgring tested-- unless of course, it was done with a full bed of 2x4's and plywood or something.
This is just stupid.
04/20/09
The Mazda MPV's chassis was tuned at Laguna Seca. Why? It's a minivan! It was, however, a minivan that handled itself pretty decently.
VW is doing the same thing. They're tuning the Robust on the 'ring to make it the most civilised as possible for its intended purpose. Have your cake and eat it too! This is great!
04/20/09
Then again, my experience is with Forza Motorsport 2, when applying a car tuned for Nurburgring to another track...
The other difference is that Mazda, as a brand, is race-oriented brand. Yes, it is a Minivan... but it's a Mazda. It's expected to handle well by reputation. Oh, and the MPV is a gloriously fun to drive minivan. They are great fun to thrash around an autocross course (Anyone else remember Mazda Rev It Up?) ... so, it's not surprising that they tested even their minivan at Laguna Seca... VW, on the other hand, isn't known for being race oriented.
I would imagine that VW is also likely testing the Pick Up at the ring because they KNOW it'll be photographed there... I suppose if something can hold up on the nurburgring it'll be compliant at 80mph on the 405 freeway...
@philipmein: As it occurred to me in the next post, the VW Robust is the world's fastest production pick up truck around the Nurburgring because as far as I know, there aren't any other production pickups that have been tested by the manufacturer at the Nurburgring.
04/21/09