Subaru says people still ask about a new Brumby, and even the Proton Jumbuck has its devotees.
Moreover, every time we cover compact car-like utes sold in America such as the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, we hear from readers who are sad we miss out.
But did you know Skoda also toyed with the notion of a small two-door pickup with some car-like attributes?
Skoda prepared the pickup prototype from late 2012 and into 2013.
The front end was taken wholesale from the production Yeti, but the rear axle and suspension came from the Volkswagen Caddy Max to better handle loads.
The engine was a 125kW 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, mated to an all-wheel drive system.
While the Yeti SUV measured 4223mm in, the pick-up was quite a bit longer at 4876mm nose-to-tail – still about 450mm shorter than a Toyota HiLux dual-cab – and had a stretched wheelbase.
The tub measured 1936 x 1170mm and the bed was 625mm deep.
“The body panels in the rear were, of course, tailored to this design by the designers,” added Martin Kadlec from Skoda’s Test Body Development Centre, who was involved in the pickup project.
Practical as the result was, it did not make it into mass production, which seems a shame. Do you agree?
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