Autoblog UK

Asian manufacturers are increasingly favouring the cube as a basic design shape. For example, Daihatsu will be arriving at the forthcoming Tokyo Motor Show with two concept cars they have designated the Basket and the Deca Deca, neither of which will be competing for any beauty prizes. The Basket is an open four-seater equipped with a hard top to cover driver and front-seat passenger, and a soft top for anyone travelling in the rear. This is supposed to give a foretaste of a new 'lifestyle' cabriolet for Japanese urbanites. With its box-like structure, the Deca Deca offers plenty of interior space for minimum exterior dimensions. Of particular practical merit are the cupboard-style doors that give easy access to the versatile multi-purpose cabin.

With the Amarok, Volkswagen are hoping to break into the pickup truck market which has been dominated by the Japanese until now. In autumn 2009, the first model will be presented to the world's media in South America. The Amarok is to be launched there in spring 2010 and will be on sale in Europe from the summer. Amarok comes from the Inuit (Eskimo) word meaning 'wolf'. The new Amarok, developed from scratch, will be introduced as a double-cab pickup with four-wheel drive, but a single-cab version is due to follow. Both will be fitted with the latest-generation common-rail turbodiesel engines.

So that the Harley-Davidson fan community can explore the world on more than just two wheels, there are motor manufacturers who would like to persuade the bikers to switch to new modes of transport. After the four-wheel Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson, a second special edition is about to hit the highways. This time though, it's a ten-wheel truck: the International LoneStar Harley-Davidson Special Edition.

The HGV colossus stares out with the customary round biker headlamps and thunders along on individual 24½-inch wheels with a prominent set of nuts. The seven-inch exhaust makes a phenomenal sound and a complete array of truly exquisite aluminium gauges transforms the cockpit into a wondrous living space. The Lonestar also sports an unusual grille with Harley-Davidson touches as well as a black paint job with the traditional silver and orange go-faster stripes.

The promotional video for the VW Pickup is a Baywatch lookalike with a cast of male heroes. Two lifesavers get an emergency call and race at breakneck speed under sunny Californian skies to a remote beach. And now for the romantic interest: a female surfer is in need of rescue. The damsel in distress (plus damaged surfboard) is brought ashore and, of course, there's plenty of room for everybody and everything in the new Pickup. This Volkswagen is plainly 100% versatile and there are more adventures in store...

Ford has officially taken the wraps off its latest variant of the F-150, the 2010 SVT Raptor. Just like it did in 1993 with the SVT Lightning, Ford has paved the way for a new segment of trucks, although this time with a dedicated off-roader capable of handing both sand dunes and trips to the grocery store. Major differences between the Raptor and the standard F-150 include a unique grille and a body that is a full seven inches wider. Other design elements include functional hood extractors and a special optional graphics package.

Don't think for a second that this is a simple exterior package, however. The Raptor comes with a completely redesigned front suspension utilizing new upper and lower A arms, upgraded tie rods, new half shaft joints, and shocks from Fox Racing. In total, the front suspension has a full 11.2 inches of travel and 13.4 inches in the rear. BFGoodrich All-Terrain TA/KO 315/70-17 tires with a unique rubber compound provide a compromise of off-road capability and on-road civility. Power comes from the tried and true 5.4L Triton V8 pumping out 320 horsepower and 390 lb-ft torque, although Ford's new 6.2L V8 will be available at a later date.

While the Raptor will be on the show floor tomorrow at SEMA, we were fortunate enough to get an early peek today including a ride across the Nevada desert outside Las Vegas. We can truly say we were immensely impressed with the Raptor's off-road capabilities and, like everyone else who got a ride, exited the passenger seat with a huge smile. We usually think of sports cars as being the best vehicles to get our adrenaline going, but skimming over the desert at high speeds apparently does it just as well.

Admittedly, trying to conjure a bit of excitement or emotion out of the relative merits of a pickup is on the one hand difficult and on the other hand, an existential question.

With their Pickup Concept prototype, Volkswagen are readying the faithful for Wolfsburg's answer to the Hilux and Navara.
In order to give this 'study' a little more pizzazz, they've equipped the Concept Pickup with radio gear, a blue light and Baywatch-style lifebuoys. The SAR inscription on the sides, standing for 'Search and Rescue', explains the remarkable accessories.
But the SAR designation as well as the lifebuoys amount to little more than concept car frippery.

The front with its headlights linked via a black monobrow grille shows parallels to the new Volkswagen design language introduced in the shape of the Golf VI.

This VW flatbed will go on sale in the German market from 2009 under the staid and more marketable name of 'Robust'.