Photo: Volkswagen
The North American midsize pickup truck market is currently just a silent battle between the Toyota Tacoma and the Nissan Frontier, with the Honda Ridgeline trying grab some action here and there. Things are about to change by the end of 2014, when the redesigned Chevrolet Colorado and its GMC Canyon twin are scheduled to arrive.
Ram Truck is reportedly not interested in joining in with a midsize pickup, while Ford has yet to confirm whether the Ranger will be revived or not. However, the midsize truck market could get a new contender all the way from Europe. According to Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, the German automaker is considering bringing the Amarok pickup stateside.
But that won’t happen just yet, as the Wolfsburg-based manufacturer is waiting for the US government to kill the Chicken Tax - a 25 percent tariff applied on foreign pickups. “We do not have any plans to introduce a VW pickup in the U.S. market. But if there was no chicken tax, that would be a good time to reevaluate that,” Browning said in Los Angeles.
The Volkswagen Amarok is on sale with two diesel engines - a 2.0-liter TDI rated at 140 HP and a 2.0-liter BiTDI that delivers 180 HP. Although it’s been two years since we tested the German truck, we have a feeling the Amarok wouldn’t stand a chance against the Tacoma, and especially against the Colorado. Or maybe VW is thinking about a brand new truck for the US, which would be very wise.
Story via MotorTrend
But that won’t happen just yet, as the Wolfsburg-based manufacturer is waiting for the US government to kill the Chicken Tax - a 25 percent tariff applied on foreign pickups. “We do not have any plans to introduce a VW pickup in the U.S. market. But if there was no chicken tax, that would be a good time to reevaluate that,” Browning said in Los Angeles.
The Volkswagen Amarok is on sale with two diesel engines - a 2.0-liter TDI rated at 140 HP and a 2.0-liter BiTDI that delivers 180 HP. Although it’s been two years since we tested the German truck, we have a feeling the Amarok wouldn’t stand a chance against the Tacoma, and especially against the Colorado. Or maybe VW is thinking about a brand new truck for the US, which would be very wise.
Story via MotorTrend
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