Volkswagen Tanoak depends on Ford
Ford-VW tie-up is key to production of another Volkswagen dual-cabThe proposed commercial vehicle co-operation between Volkswagen and Ford is key to the VW Atlas Tanoak ute entering production.
First revealed at April’s New York motor show and now firmly in Volkswagen Group Australia’s sights, the five-seat dual-cab could be the silver bullet that finally lifts the VW brand into the heartland of American car buyers.
However, it’s yet to be confirmed for production, just as the large seven-seat Atlas SUV — on which the Tanoak concept was based — is yet to be confirmed for right-hand drive production.
Sources at Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg headquarters suggest the easiest way to get the Tanoak built is to switch it from its unitary MQB architecture to the Ford Ranger’s Australian-developed T6 ladder-frame platform.
From there, the next step would be to have Ford build it for Volkswagen in North America, avoiding the so-called ‘chicken tax’ on trucks imported to the US, which would add 25 per cent to its import price.
The only difficulty with that is identifying what would be in it for Ford.
It would be a more expensive machine to build on the concept car’s extended Atlas architecture, but it could be built comfortably on the same Chattanooga production lines that churn out the Passat and Atlas, which is also on Volkswagen Australia’s radar.
It’s longer than the excellent but unprofitable Amarok, so switching to Volkswagen’s existing ladder-frame chassis wouldn’t work.
And the wrinkle in all of this is that its US pricing would need to comfortably beneath the entry-level Ford F-150 crew-cab, which starts at $US35,000.
The Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak is not designed to take on the F-Series, but rather the Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, Toyota Tacoma and Honda Ridgeline.
That said, it’s as wide as the F-Series, at 2030mm, with a 3260mm wheelbase and a 5438mm overall length. Its payload is 750kg, though it could be pushed to swallow a metric tonne with a change of rear axle.
While switching the Tanoak to a ladder chassis would eat away its ride and handling advantages, it would also mean it could not be built at Chattanooga.
The only viable option then open to Volkswagen would be a joint-venture, of the kind openly being discussed with Ford.
“It’s not as obvious as people think,” one Volkswagen insider insisted.
“Those full-size trucks don’t make much money on the workhorse and fleet versions, but they make huge money on the private sales – up to 50 per cent.
“But that richer mix just isn’t there yet at the next size down, which is where the Atlas Tanoak would be.”
Click here for our first drive review of the Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak concept.
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