Pickup trucks have always been a small part of India’s passenger vehicle market. Things have started looking a little different recently, with lifestyle pickups such as the New Toyota Hilux and Mahindra Scorpio Lifestyler pickup drawing attention. Brazil, however, has a much bigger market for this type of vehicle. Volkswagen has now added a new name to that space with the Tukan pickup.
The Volkswagen Tukan has made its global debut at the Barretos Rodeo Festival in Brazil. It will be sold in single cab and double cab forms, with the market launch planned for the first half of 2027.
Volkswagen has shown two versions of the Tukan. The single cab model is called Robust and has a longer cargo area. It is designed for work and commercial use.
The double cab model is the Extreme version. It gets more equipment and a more lifestyle-focused character. Key takeways
The Tukan does not look like a traditional Volkswagen car with its rear section converted into a pickup. It has a tall front end with LED lighting placed high on the nose.
The front gets a wide black grille and large air openings. The sides have squared wheel arches, protective cladding and side steps. The rear uses vertical tail lamps and the TUKAN name is stamped across the tailgate.
The launch version is finished in Canary Yellow, giving the pickup a strong visual character.
The Tukan uses a version of Volkswagen’s MQB architecture. This is the first time Volkswagen has used the MQB platform for a pickup truck.
There are some major changes to suit the new body style. The rear uses leaf springs, which are useful for carrying heavier loads and handling rough roads.
The wheelbase has also been extended to create enough room for the cabin and cargo bed.
Volkswagen has not released complete engine specifications yet. Reports suggest that the entry version could use a 1.6 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with a manual gearbox.
A 1.0 litre flex fuel engine with an automatic gearbox is also being considered. Higher versions could get a 1.5 TSI Evo2 engine with a 48 volt mild hybrid system.
The electrification part is important because Volkswagen Brazil says new locally developed models will have at least one electrified version.
The Tukan is being developed and produced in Brazil. Volkswagen says 76 percent of its parts will be sourced locally.
The pickup has already covered more than 2 million kilometres during testing. Customers also took part in real world evaluations. Their feedback led to changes to areas such as the air intake and air conditioning system.
