The second concept pick-up to be unveiled this year after the Atlas Tanoak Concept in New York earlier this year, the Tarok rides on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB A0 platform also used by Polo and T-Cross, but comes in at a claimed five metres, making it nearly 800m longer in overall length than the latter.

Taking styling inspiration from the Tanoak at the front with the wraparound taillights being an obvious nod the T-Cross, the double cab Tarok provides seating for five and comes equipped with novelties such as a targa-like roof bar and an expandable loadbed that can be enlarged by lowering the panel between the actual bin-liner and passenger cab. Loading capacity is rated at around “one tonnes”.

Finished in a colour called Cypress Metallic, which is carried over to the crossbar that extends across the dashboard, the Tarok’s interior mirrors that of the Polo with the concept featuring the same glass-covered infotainment system, as well as the Active Info Display digital instrument cluster.

Providing motivation, the Tarok comes powered by a 1.4 TSI adapted to also run on ethanol, and which produces 110kW. The same engine that will be offered as an option on the Brazilian-spec T-Cross, the unit in the Tarok comes mated to a six-speed Tiptronic gearbox with drive, unlike the front-wheel drive only Saveiro, being routed to all four wheels via Volkswagen’s 4Motion system.

While Volkswagen has yet to announce when the Tarok will become a production reality, it has let slip that very few changes will take place in the switch from concept to mass-produced model, with the confirmation of a 110kW 2.0 TDI motor opening up the possibility of it making to South Africa as it has been declared a world model.