Volkswagen told us a little more about its much-anticipated new feature Amarok before its full reveal, and before it hits showrooms early next year.
Much of the design and engineering for Second generation Volkswagen processed in Australia, this is a great opportunity to become Amarok’s top market.
This is because it is based on New generation Ford Ranger foundation, development is led by Blue Oval’s Victorian R&D team. However, VW already has a team working in tandem with the program.
While the Ranger will once again be manufactured in Thailand, the 2023 Amarok production is shifting from Argentina and Germany to the Ford plant in South Africa.
As well as showing images of camouflaged late-stage prototypes undergoing testing, Volkswagen provided some details to build on customer expectations.
At 5350mm long, the new model is about 100mm longer than before. Its 3270mm wheelbase is 175mm longer than before, increasing interior space. With the wheelbase having been increased proportionally to the entire vehicle, the front and rear departure angles will also be improved.
Volkswagen says to expect payloads of up to 1.2 tonnes on horse versions, though you’d expect higher-end V6 ‘lifestyle’ models to focus more on vehicle comfort. people sit with softer settings. VW also said that the wading depth ceiling will increase sharply.
Globally, there will be a choice of four diesels and one petrol, with displacements ranging from 2.0 liters to 3.0 liters, plus rear-wheel drive, part-time 4×4 or AWD permanently full time. Volkswagen says the 3.5-ton towing capacity will remain.
The flagship powertrain – expected to form the core of Volkswagen Australia’s product offering as it is now – will be a Ford-powered V6 diesel engine (184kW and 600Nm on the Ranger) with an automatic transmission. 10 levels, rather than the upcoming car’s 3.0-liter TDI V6.
As for the other engines being borrowed from Ford, that suggests a 2.0-liter single-turbo diesel with a six-speed transmission, a 2.0-liter biturbo with a 10-speed automatic, and a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged petrol. It’s not clear what the mentioned missing option would be.
Given that the Ranger was developed to allow for plug-in hybrids – to be added over the course of a lifetime – a Volkswagen version is worth speculating.
Along with the move to Ford’s ‘T6’ architecture, Volkswagen has made strides in the critical area of active safety, saying it expects up to 30 driver assistance systems, more than 20 among them are new – which means AEB, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, active cruise control and the rest.
Design-wise, the new front end will feature horizontal slats across the grille, with rather narrow LED headlights as standard on all trim levels. Matrix LEDs will be optional. Top trims will offer 21-inch blue (up to) alloy wheels and off-road tyres.
The rear end will be surrounded by standard LED lights again, and the ‘Amarok’ badge is embossed in practically full width. As in the previous model, the new Amarok can once again fit a pallet between the domes, with fastening loops at the front and rear.
Volkswagen promises to offer different touchpoints and some degree of differentiation from the Ranger inside. Expect a digital cluster and tablet-style infotainment screen – in vertical orientation like the Ford.
The company promises an exclusive audio system, leather upholstery for the equipment and door panels with stitching, and upgraded seats with optional 10-way movement. “The back of the DoubleCab Amarok also provides room for three adult passengers,” adds VW.
Volkswagen says there will be five trim levels: the entry-level version will be badged ‘Amarok’, followed by ‘Life’ and ‘Style’ grades. Billed as “equally top-of-the-line versions” will be ‘PanAmericana’ (a focus on terrain) and ‘Aventura’ (focused on road, lifestyle).
It remains to be seen whether any locally tuned Walkinshaw versions will return.
Over 830,000 Amaroks have been sold to date in Europe, South America, South Africa and Oceania (Australia is an important global market, especially for V6 engines). While dual-cab will be the focus here, a single-chassis horse-drawn carriage will be produced and possibly an option.
THAN: Everything Volkswagen Amarok
THAN: Everything Ford Ranger
