by Volkswagen secretly created an SUV prototype based on the Amarok
Volkswagen has watched for years as competitors profit from body-on-frame SUVs built on pickup trucks without offering its own version. However, behind the scenes, some executives from Wolfsburg have persistently promoted the idea of such a project, and they seem not to have given up on bringing it to series production.
It was previously reported that the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles division developed a one-of-a-kind seven-seat SUV based on the Amarok pickup — a body-on-frame mid-size vehicle sold in Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America, but not in the U.S. This vehicle never progressed beyond the prototype stage, but according to rumors, it is still kept somewhere in Volkswagen’s internal collection, reminding executives of a missed opportunity.
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The concept itself is simple: take a sturdy body-on-frame pickup, replace the cargo bed with a closed passenger cabin, add a third row of seats — and you get a competitor for the Ford Everest, Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser Prado, and Isuzu MU-X.
Why the project was constantly delayed
The problem was not with engineering. According to sources, VW advanced the project far enough to determine the vehicle’s overall shape and proportions. VWCV design chief Albert Kirzinger even published an image of this creation on LinkedIn in 2024, years after it was shelved. The real obstacle was money. Creating a specialized SUV version only makes sense with sufficient demand, and VW executives in Wolfsburg couldn’t make the numbers add up.
This is especially relevant when the vehicle is aimed at a limited number of markets. While body-on-frame SUVs based on pickups are very popular in Australia, Thailand, South Africa, and parts of South America, they are not mass sellers in other regions. Without broader global demand, the business model consistently failed. However, this idea may now be reconsidered.
“Expanding the model range is a long-standing desire,” Mecha told Australian publication Go Auto. “Specifically, this sturdy or enclosed pickup, as we call it, which uses the same platform as the pickup.”
A new Amarok under development
Volkswagen has already confirmed that the third generation of the Amarok will replace the model launched in 2022, and negotiations are ongoing regarding who will help develop and manufacture it.
The obvious path is to continue the partnership with Ford. The current Amarok largely shares its platform with the Ranger, which already has the Everest SUV as a close relative. Creating a version under the VW brand would seem like a simple solution, although VW is also considering using its Chinese capabilities — the company is already working on an entirely new hybrid Amarok for South America based on Chinese technology.
For American buyers, this is mostly an interesting “what if” scenario, as the current Amarok is not sold in the U.S., largely due to the “chicken tax” which makes its import too expensive. But given the success of body-on-frame pickups like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma in America, VW might consider U.S. production.
Regardless of whether this happens, the thought of a Volkswagen alternative to the Everest, Prado, and other rugged SUVs is intriguing. The prototype may have gathered dust for years, but the dream, it seems, has not yet died.
Although Volkswagen is in no hurry to release its own body-on-frame SUV, the idea itself remains on the agenda. The partnership with Ford appears to be the most pragmatic solution as it allows leveraging an already proven platform and production capabilities. At the same time, collaboration with Chinese companies could provide access to cutting-edge hybrid technologies, which is especially important for markets demanding more environmentally friendly solutions. Thus, the appearance of a production Amarok SUV is not a question of technical feasibility, but rather one of strategically choosing the right time and market.
