Pickup

Fueled by Thailand's role as a leading automotive hub and booming adventure tourism destination, this year's Bangkok Motor Show much like a SEMA-style overland exhibition. It had way more cool campers and roof-tented 4x4s than we ever expected.

It’s been a long time coming. Volkswagen has just said it “wouldn’t rule out” the idea of a pickup for the American market. It seems that the sheer size of the pickup truck market in the US has proven hard for VW to ignore anymore.

Since its inception, the Ram Truck brand has tried to be the most truck of all the trucks. “Best-in-Class” this and “Segment-leading” that headlined every press release and advertisement. Not anymore.

The Kimbo camper has always felt to us less an RV and more a stylish backcountry hut secured to a pickup bed. Now, Kimbo makes that hut a little larger by launching an 8-foot model for full-size trucks.

Pickup truck campers have been growing lighter, but few come close to the new Thaircamper. The inflatable camper weighs as little as a fiberglass truck cap and inflates in mere minutes into a full alcove sleeper pod that sleeps three to four people.

In a segment dominated by gas or electric powertrains, there’s a new contender from China. The Chery KP31: a diesel plug-in hybrid pickup. It comes at a time when the global demand for trucks continues to surge, as do tightening emissions regulations.

Tekton introduces a different style of camping canopy, leaving aluminum behind and applying the composite expertise it honed on small trailers. Its monocoque CX then builds into a proper Outback survival tool via an ecosystem of optional add-ons.

During over 50 years on the global market, the Toyota Hilux has sold more than 27 million units and been identified as the most indestructible passenger vehicle out there. Now, it evolves into its 9th generation, welcoming new capabilities and tech.

Weighing less than most rooftop tents and taking up far less space than a camper, the Camp Tonneau Tent is always at the ready for truck camping but stows completely out of the way for unencumbered everyday commuting and cargo hauling.

Following the Freedom Camper, we were wondering if we'd see more wheel-less camper pods hit the scene. Well, we now have another. The new Stubby slide-in camper adds a curvier shape to a versatile truck-to-trailer design with a low price.

The new Hotomobil Atlas Cabin Box is similar to a few concepts and products we've looked over in the past few months, but it ultimately pulls together a full-bodied pickup camper and a rooftop tent in a way we don't recall seeing before.

One of the most interesting concepts revealed at this year's Japan Mobility Show was also one of the simplest. The barebones Toyota IMV Origin concept is potentially one of the most versatile vehicles Toyota (or any automaker) has ever built.