The Volkswagen-designed body and interior that sits upon Ford Ranger underpinnings, including engines and gearboxes, is built at the Ford factory in Silverton and will become part of the Volkswagen global export initiative.
More so, perhaps than the outgoing version, the new Amarok has an increased business focus with a revised cargo bin and a payload of up to 1,19 tonnes with a 3.5 tonne towing capacity.
At 5 350 millimetres, the new Amarok is 96 mm longer than its predecessor. A wheelbase of 3,270 mm represents an increase of 173 mm. The wheelbase is also longer, reducing the body overhangs and improving off-road capability, with Double Cab’s ramp angles enhanced to 30 degrees at the front and 26 degrees at the back.
For African markets, the base engine specification is a TDI delivering 110 kW. In terms of power, the next engine for global markets, including Europe, is a 2,0-litre four-cylinder TDI delivering 125 kW.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also offers a four-cylinder engine with bi-turbo, which develops 155 kW. Available as the new top TDI will be a V6 engine that, in South Africa, offers 184 kW. For markets where petrol engines are dominant in the pick-up sector, a four-cylinder TSI is delivering 222 kW.
The Amarok 110 kW variant will drive through a 5-speed gearbox and rear-wheel drive, while The TDI engines delivering 125 kW and 151 kW will get a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard in many European and other markets.
Also available in some markets as an option for the 125 kW TDI is a 6-speed automatic transmission. The 2,0-litre TDI delivering 151 kW can, as an option, is configurable with a new 10-speed automatic transmission. The 155 kW TDI, the V6 TDI and the turbo-petrol engines always come as standard with the 10-speed automatic transmission.
Depending on the engine version, two different 4MOTION systems are in use – one selectable all-wheel drive with three and four drive modes.
As an additional fourth mode (4A), the elite version offers a variable and automatic power distribution between the front and rear axles via a multi-plate clutch - an optional differential lock and intelligent ‘Drive Modes’ on top of the all-wheel characteristics.
Depending on specification, up to 25 assistance systems come with some 20 of these systems. For instance, an automatic cruise control system (‘intelligent speed control assistant’), a parking assistant for assisted manoeuvring into and out of parking spaces, a 310-degree all-round view ‘‘Area View’), a lane change assistant and the road sign recognition system – are new on the second-generation Amarok.
“For the new generation, we have significantly modified the Amarok’s archetypal design. It is now unambiguously more expressive and even more impressive”, says Albert Kirzinger, Head of Design at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
LED headlights are standard on all versions and the lights used on the Amarok PanAmericana and Amarok Aventura, as well as in some countries on the Amarok Style, are the ‘IQ. LIGHT – LED headlights, which are new to this product line.
They provide interactive carriageway illumination and create an unmistakable light design. Below the transverse bars, the radiator grille unit merges into a horizontal level of the front section in the PanAmericana and Aventura – into an X-shaped design. Embossed above the number plate holder of both top models is the word ‘Amarok’.
The look and feel of the materials inside now resemble those of premium SUVs such as the Volkswagen Touareg.
On the base version, the displays consist of an 8,0-inch Digital Cockpit (on the Style and above, a fully digital and 12,3-inch) and the portrait format touchscreen of the infotainment system (10,1-inch, Style and above 12,0-inch).
The speaker volume of the infotainment system is adjustable via a rotary switch. The primary functions of the all-wheel drive: for parking, air-conditioning, and assistance systems and the driving modes are controllable via buttons.
The Amarok PanAmericana and Amarok Aventura flaunt a 620-watt Harman Kardon sound system included as standard. Likewise included as standard in the Amarok PanAmericana and Aventura is a leather-look instrument panel with contrast stitching.
As was the case on the predecessor model, the cargo bed between the wheel arches, at 1 227 mm, offers enough room for a Euro pallet loaded sideways or lengthways. With the tailgate closed, the length of the cargo box is 1 624 mm for the Double Cab and 2 332 mm for the Single Cab.
Volkswagen will release the specifications and pricing for the new Amarok in the first quarter of 2023.
