That's right folks, this is the first photo of the upcoming Volkswagen Robust — VW's pickup truck pants party gate crasher. Although the segment was once dominated by the 'mericans, it seems everyone's checking their coat at the door in exchange for a pair of steel-toes. But those boots'll be sitting in a double-cab that'll have some 4x4 capabilities. And it'll have to, because In addition to the Robust, we're also expecting to see a full-size SUV built on the same platform to sit smack dab in the center of the Tiguan and Touareg in VW's current lineup.
Really, Volkswagen is hoping to build a utility vehicle that'll be able to compete with competitors with some off-road credibility like the Nissan Pathfinder. That level of full-size SUV will, when combined with this new pickup truck, be able to finally flesh out the VW team into a lineup with all the little bits and pieces needed to succeed in a global automotive environment. Still, given the brand's track record here in the US when it comes to profitability and sales, we're wondering if that level of brand expansion will give them the cojones they need to boost sales to a more "robust" level. Hah. We're so punny. Anyway, we shouldn't have to worry as we're not even sure the US will be a target market — we're hearing it's a little bit further South. Maybe they should call it the "Robusto." [AutoExpress]