VW Unveils Concept Pickup Truck At New York Auto Show
NEW YORK, March 28 (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG unveiled a prototype pickup truck at the New York auto show on Wednesday, a vehicle that would fill a gap in the German company's U.S. The German automaker said the dual-cab, short-bed concept Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak pickup truck could be built off the same platform at its Chattanooga, Tennessee assembly plant, where it builds the Atlas SUV and Passat car. Volkswagen said it does not currently have production plans for a U.S. The vehicle could compete with pickups like the Honda Ridgeline, executives said. Hinrich Woebcken, chief executive of the North American region for the VW, told reporters Tuesday in New York. Pickups accounted for about 16 percent of U.S. 2017 and the best-selling vehicle is Ford Motor Co's F-Series pickup trucks. VW sells the Amarok pickup truck in Europe and other markets but not in the United States, where it faces a 25 percent import tariff. VW last sold a pickup truck in the United States in the mid-1980s.
The Tanoak, named after a species of tree that is native to the United States' Pacific Coast, is 214.1 inches long, some 15.8 inches longer than the Atlas, which makes it a large midsize pickup by U.S. 340 million to build a new sport utility vehicle in its Tennessee plant as demand surges for larger vehicles. The vehicle will be a five-passenger SUV that will be branded as part of the company麓s Atlas family and go on sale next year. A concept version called the Atlas Cross Sport Concept was unveiled Tuesday night ahead of the auto show. The investment announcement is positive news for the U.S. VW said in February that 54 percent of its total own-brand volume sales were SUVs - a big shift for a company that for years largely emphasized cars in the United States. In addition to a seven-passenger Atlas, which went on sale last year, VW unveiled an all-new 2018 Tiguan SUV last year.
Which Is Better: 2016 Volkswagen GTI or 2016 Honda Fit? The 2016 Honda Fit provides a pleasing ride. The Fit's interior is plush, and the seats are comfortable, with ample rear-seat legroom even for adult passengers. The versatile folding abilities of the rear seats are convenient for hauling cargo. The Fit is a more practical to car to own, but the GTI is more fun to drive. Which Is Better: 2016 Volkswagen GTI or 2016 Volkswagen Golf? The 2016 Volkswagen GTI is essentially a trim of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf. Both have athletic handling, but there鈥檚 much more power under the GTI鈥檚 hood (210 horsepower for the GTI versus 170 for the Golf). For exhilarating driving, select the GTI. Otherwise, pick the Golf. How Does the 2016 Volkswagen GTI Drive? The 2016 Volkswagen GTI produces responsive acceleration and isn鈥檛 shy when drivers want to go fast. It鈥檚 nimble and fun to drive, handling winding roads with no problems. The front-wheel-drive GTI features a turbocharged 210-horsepower four-cylinder engine.
An available performance package brings the horsepower total to 220. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and a six-speed automatic is available. The car has an adjustable suspension with multiple driving modes that can be tuned to match road conditions. Does the 2016 Volkswagen GTI Get Good Gas Mileage? The GTI gets an EPA-estimated 25/34 mpg city/highway with the manual transmission and 25/33 with the automatic. Both are below average for the class. How Many People Does the 2016 GTI Seat? The five-seat Golf GTI comes standard with cloth upholstery and heated front seats. Leather upholstery and a power-adjustable driver鈥檚 seat are available. Front- and rear-seat passengers will find plenty of room, though legroom in the back is a little tight when you push the front seats back. The seats are comfortable, even on extended trips. How Many Car Seats Fit in the 2016 Volkswagen GTI? For installing child safety seats, the GTI has a complete set of LATCH connectors on the outboard rear seats and an upper-tether anchor on the middle seat.
Standard features in the 2016 GTI include Bluetooth, satellite radio, an eight-speaker stereo, and an easy-to-use infotainment system with voice recognition, smartphone app integration, and a 6.5-inch touch screen, which some might find too small. Available features include dual-zone automatic climate control, navigation, an eight-speaker Fender audio system, and an upgraded infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink. The 2016 GTI offers 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 52.7 cubic feet with them folded. Both numbers are among the best in the class. The GTI comes standard with an adjustable cargo floor. The cargo opening is wide and makes loading items easy. The 2016 GTI measures 14 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 2,972 pounds (two-door model with a manual transmission) to 3,086 pounds (four-door model with an automatic). The GTI鈥檚 gross vehicle weight rating ranges from 4,189 to 4,255 pounds.
