Volkswagen Taro

In January 1989,^[1] Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles introduced a 1 tonne pickup truck, called the Volkswagen Taro, to complement the half tonne Caddy pickup / panel van ranges, and the 1 tonne Transporter van and chassis cab ranges.

The Taro though, was a project of badge engineering, the Taro was a rebadged Toyota Hilux - fully engineered and designed by Toyota.

The two companies came together to solve each others problems:

• Volkswagen Group at the time did not have a one-tonne pickup truck;
• Toyota wanted European market share of European 1 tonne utility market.

So in the late 1980s, Volkswagen Group and Toyota signed an agreement that Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles would manufacture the Toyota Hilux at its VWCV factory in Hanover, Germany, and it would be sold under the Volkswagen Taro moniker.

The first Taros manufactured in Hanover, Germany from 1989-1994 had a 2.4 litre diesel engine with 61 kilowatts (83 PS; 82 bhp), torque was 165 newton metres (122 ft•lbf) at 2,400 rpm, with loading space of 3.4 square metres (37 sq ft) and a 1,125 kilograms (2,480 lb) payload.

In September 1994 at the IAA Nutfahrzeuge (Commercial Vehicle Fair) in Hanover, Germany,^[2] Volkswagen released the four-wheel drive version of the Taro which had an extended cabin.

The 4x4 Extended Cab Taro was manufactured in Toyota's Sahara plant in Japan, but now the Taro had an updated 2.4 litre diesel engine which produced 58 kilowatts (79 PS; 78 bhp) at 4,000 rpm and torque of 163 newton metres (120 ft•lbf) at 2,400 rpm.

The 4x4 Taro had a 2.9 square metres (31 sq ft) loading space and 815 kilograms (1,797 lb) payload, but could tow 750 kilograms (1,653 lb) without brakes, and 2,100 kilograms (4,630 lb) with brakes.

The joint venture ended in 1996, due to being under both car marques expectations.

Specifications

engine ID code, displacement, configuration and rated motive power output^{[3][clarification needed]}

2Y: 1.8 litre inline four OHV petrol engine with carburettor, 61 kilowatts (83 PS; 82 bhp) at 4,000 rpm

4Y: 2.2 litre inline four OHV petrol engine with carburettor, 69 kilowatts (94 PS; 93 bhp)

2L: 2.4 litre inline four indirect injection SOHC diesel engine, 61 kilowatts (83 PS; 82 bhp) at 4,000 rpm

22R: 2.4 litre inline four SOHC petrol engine with Bosch L-Jetronic common rail multi-point indirect injection, 82 kilowatts (111 PS; 110 bhp)

driveline

4x2 = RWD, 4x4 = 4WD

loading area (m²)

(4x2) 3.1m² (4x4) 2.9m²

track width - front

(4x2) 1,355 millimetres (53.3 in), (4x4) 1,430 millimetres (56.3 in)

track width - rear

(4x2) 1,370 millimetres (53.9 in), (4x4) 1,425 millimetres (56.1 in)

turning circle

(4x2) 12.6 metres (41.3 ft), (4x4) 14.0 metres (45.9 ft)

permissible total weight

(4x2) 2,395 kilograms (5,280 lb), (4x4) 2,515 kilograms (5,545 lb)

payload

(4x2) 995 kilograms (2,194 lb), (4x4) 815 kilograms (1,797 lb)

trailer weight braked

(4x2) 1,800 kilograms (3,968 lb), (4x4) 2,100 kilograms (4,630 lb)

trailer weight unbraked

750 kilograms (1,653 lb)

maximum speed km/h

(4x2) 145 kilometres per hour (90.1 mph), (4x4) 130 kilometres per hour (80.8 mph)

acceleration - 0-80 kilometres per hour (49.7 mph)

(4x2) 15.0 secs, (4x4) 17.0 secs

fuel consumption

(4x2) 9.6 litres per 100 kilometres (29 mpg_-imp; 25 mpg_-US), (4x4) 10.2 litres per 100 kilometres (27.7 mpg_-imp; 23.1 mpg_-US)

Specifications Source^[1]

Future Pick-Up

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles division is now developing the Volkswagen Amarok pick-up, to be released in late 2009. It will rival the Nissan Navara and Toyota Hilux.

It will have Single & Double Cab options as well as the option of 2WD or 4WD.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Volkswagen Taro Press Release. Jan 1989.
2. ^ Volkswagen Taro Press Release. Sept 1994.
3. ^ ETKA

External links

• Volkswagen-Commercial-Vehicles.com - official international portal

Categories: Volkswagen vehicles | Pickup trucks | Toyota vehicles