The Amarok isn't Volkswagen's only pickup truck, as there's also the smaller Saveiro in Latin America. This compact workhorse isn't available in India, where this unique vehicle was conceived after nine months of development. It was developed by the local Skoda Auto Volkswagen India subsidiary through its Student Car Project, supported by the government's 'Skill India' program. Mechatronics students were involved in the creation of this diminutive pickup, with guidance from Skoda and VW teams in India.
As you can see, the truck wasn't built from the ground up; it borrowed several components from existing products. It's actually based on two cars, the Taigun crossover and Virtus sedan. To manage costs, the project team used as many off-the-shelf components as possible, leading to some compromises in the final design. However, not all parts were taken from these two cars; new components had to be 3D-printed to integrate with the borrowed ones.
To give it a rugged appearance, the students added a snorkel, fender flares, and plenty of plastic body cladding. Additionally, the pickup rides significantly higher due to a suspension lift and features an LED light bar on its roof. It also boasts eye-catching body graphics and chunky tires on what appear to be beadlock wheels.
Regarding the rear overhang, it's not exactly a sight for sore eyes. Since it wasn't originally designed as a pickup, the small bed had to be improvised, resulting in an extended and somewhat awkward rear end. In comparison, the Saveiro mentioned earlier, which is also based on a car, is much better executed, without such an ungainly rear section.
This pickup truck isn't the only intriguing vehicle created by students from the mechatronics course; they also built a four-door convertible last year, though it didn't make it to production.
