Electric Volkswagen off-roader to use Ford Ranger chassis?

Volkswagen is currently eyeing up a new fully electric off-roader that will be based on the Ford Ranger chassis.

The German manufacturer already uses the Ranger’s ladder-frame platform, called T6, on its second-generation Amarok ute but now wants to turn it into an EV with an SUV body.

Speculation of the project has been ongoing since December with VW Commercial Vehicles CEO Carsten Intra confirming to British publication Autocar that the model is currently being looked at with Ford.

“We’re looking at it together with Ford. It’s still on the agenda,” Intra said.

Putting an SUV body on the Ranger platform shouldn’t be an issue considering Ford has already done so with its seven-seat Everest model.

However, the main engineering challenge with the T6 platform is converting it to a fully electric drivetrain.

In terms of looks, Autocar suggests that the design will be based on VW’s unreleased ID Ruggdzz concept which has only ever been seen by select media in 2019.

Development of the electric Volkswagen off-roader is currently being undertaken in Melbourne, Australia, where the second-generation Amarok was also developed.