Ten years in the making – The VW Pickup story.

1999 Advanced Activity Concept

Ten years ago at the Detroit Auto Show Volkswagen unveiled the Advanced Activity Concept (AAC).


1999 Advanced Activity Concept

Volkswagen’s intension was clear it would build a pickup sooner or later: At the Detroit Auto Show VW was previewing the AAC Concept a precursor to the Touareg design and the V10 TDI engine which would power the production Touareg.

Now with the AAC pickup study in the open it was time to register public opinions and gauge possibly customer reactions.
Of course VW Enthusiasts such as me fell in love with the idea but would it make it to production?


1999 Sportstar Study

On the other side of the globe at the 1999 IAA Frankfurt Show the fifth division of the Volkswagen Group, Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge (aka Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to You and I) introduced the Sportstar Study a pickup derived from the successful Multivan (Europe) - Eurovan (US) series.

Unfortunately the Concept D the precursor to the Phaeton luxury saloon took the attention from the Sportstar Study which was developed by German company Stahl with VW Commercial Vehicles.

The Sportstar was highly equipped with the luxurious alcantara leather captain chairs and it was powered by the T4 series evergreen 102hp TDI engine with syncro all wheel drive for added comfort.

So what happened for nearly ten years?

As both Volkswagen and its Commercial division both had presented studies it was time to debate which division would build and develop it.


1999 Advanced Activity Concept

The passenger division wanted a luxury truck but the commercial division wanted a more robust pickup; one that could carry and tow heavy loads and do everyday duties at the same time.

During this time VW CEO Ferdinand Piech was trying to push Volkswagen upmarket with products such as the Passat W8, Touareg and the Phaeton.
Unfortunately this did not work mainly due to the Volkswagen Group already pushing its Audi brand upmarket.

Subsequently the Volkswagen Group under new CEO Bernd Pischetrieder scaled back its luxury VW push; first dropping the Passat W8 then dropping the Phaeton out of North America which was seen as a failure.

There were internal studies during this time; but the quibble between the two divisions delayed the greenlight, fast forward to 2005 and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles unveiled its intention to build a Microbus and a family of Robust Pick Up’s.

Obviously this year is very big year for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles with the unveiling of the new one tonne midsize pickup the fourth line within the division.

Now we have already seen the Robust undergoing testing since April this year; next week we will finally know its production name and be able to see its face in production concept guise at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show.

This Tuesday the 23rd. of September the embargo will be lifted and full details will flow.






1999 Advanced Activity Concept