We don’t usually feature commercial vehicles here on EngageSportMode, but even we’ll admit that Volkswagen’s TRISTAR concept is rather cool. They’ve even painted it orange, so we’re pretty much inclined to like it just for that.
Set to be officially premiered at the 65th IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover, the TRISTAR concept brings back a name used by Volkswagen in the 1980s whilst showing off the new design direction for the new T6 range.
It actually looks rather good to our eyes, with the short wheelbase pick-up body mounted on suspension that’s raised 30mm. There’s also permanent 4Motion all-wheel drive and a mechanical locking rear differential to help out when things get really tough. Power comes from a 2.0 litre four-cylinder TDI engine with 201 bhp and 332 lb-ft of torque; enough to shove the TRISTAR to 62 mph from rest in only 10.0 seconds. It’ll also reach a top speed of 115 mph, so could easily mix it in the outside lane of a motorway! The TRISTAR concept is fitted with a very uncommercial vehicle like 7-speed DSG dual clutch transmission.
Internally there’s brown leather seats with orange trim – weird, but we kind of like it – more brown leather on the steering wheel and gear knob, with a multitude of grab handles also dotted throughout the cab. A 20″ tablet table and integrated espresso machine (seriously) is intended to let “architects, film crews or landscape gardeners” use the TRISTAR as a mobile office or meeting space.
Put simply, if we had to pick a mobile AWD office with built-in coffee solutions, the TRISTAR concept would be out first pick. We just might need it to be in a slightly deeper shade of orange, that’s all.
