Not to be confused with the Karoq from Skoda, the Tarok is a concept that previews a compact-sized pickup truck from Volkswagen. Premiered at the Sao Paulo International Motor Show, the concept exhibits “barely any changes” from the production model.
Confirmed to arrive at dealers in 2020, the Tarok comes with MQB underpinnings, making it the half-brother of models that range from the Golf hatchback to the Atlas crossover. Described as an “avant-garde pickup” with the “potential to boost Volkswagen’s model range in other global markets,” the concept is equipped with 4Motion all-wheel drive and the 1.4-liter TSI.
The four-cylinder turbo is good for 150 horsepower, and being developed for the Brazilian market, the Tarok also runs on pure ethanol (E100) and gasoline-ethanol blend (E22). The suck-squeeze-bang-blow is sent to all four wheels by a six-speed automatic transmission with a torque converter.
According to the automaker, the production model will start out with the 2.0-liter turbo diesel known as TDI, as well as the 2.0 TSI. “The Tarok’s DNA adds an exhilarating dynamic to the segment,” declared Klaus Bischoff, head designer at Volkswagen.
The targa-inspired roof is the most striking piece of exterior design, followed up by the Touareg-esque front fascia and three-dimensional LED lighting strip on the tailgate. The quarter panels incorporate black cladding that brings the point home even further, and the skid plates along with the all-terrain tires promise capability off the beaten path.
Similar to the Chevrolet Avalanche from more than a decade ago, the Tarok has a retractable panel in the rear that can be opened to extend the cargo area into the cabin. The bed is 1,206 millimeters long, but opening the hatch and folding the rear seats extends the load area to 1,861 millimeters. The payload is estimated in the ballpark of 1,000 kilograms (2,205 pounds), which isn’t bad at all for a pickup from the compact segment.
“The Tarok concept’s expressive design makes it the first pickup to combine the stylistic elements of an urban SUV with an authentic off-road design,” added Bischoff, which goes to show that Volkswagen is somewhat superficial when it comes to pickup trucks.
Even though the concept looks unlike anything else with a bed at the rear, the Tarok is too similar to the passenger-car and crossover lineups in terms of exterior design. In other words, too bland to stand out from the crowd.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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