Mercedes-Benz might have pulled out of the premium pickup market with the cancellation of the X-Class, but that’s not stopped Audi from taking a look at producing a high-end pickup truck.

While some way from confirming that a new model is on the way, Audi’s CEO Markus Duesmann did comment that “I can’t promise that we will do one, but we are looking into it. Actually, we will present – not too far from now – maybe something.”

First reported by Autocar, Duesmann was talking with reporters alongside representatives of the other three Audi Group brands – Bentley, Lamborghini and Ducati – ahead of the group’s annual earnings report.

His comments suggest that, at the very least, a concept model will be forthcoming.

Should such a vehicle appear, it will undoubtedly be built around the Ford Ranger’s chassis, as that’s forming the basis of the next-generation Volkswagen Amarok. Built in Silverton, South Africa, and fitted with either a 2.0-litre four-cylinder or 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, rebranding the Volkswagen to sister brand Audi would be a relatively easy task, although updating the interior with a bespoke cabin would add significant expense.

Audi pickup truck concept by Kleber Silva
Image courtesy of Kleber Silva

It’s also a possibility that Audi is looking to make use of the MEB platform used by Volkswagen’s electric vehicles, to create a lifestyle truck particularly suited to the US market. This would also allow the sharing of technology and data across other members of the Volkswagen Group.

Brazilian design artist Kleber Silva has taken the hints from Audi and created a rendering of what such a pickup truck could look like. Taking design cues from the Q range of SUVs and applying them to the next-generation Ford Ranger, Silva has created a classy design that’s realistic enough that it could have come directly from Ingolstadt.

Phil Huff
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