Allow us to break it down. The current 3.0 diesel swilling V6 churns out an already mighty 165kW and 550Nm (mind you that stretches to 180kW momentarily in overboost) whereas the new X-Class 350d makes 190kW and 550Nm making it the champion in these here parts. But not for long as a hiked up Amarok is on its way to the tune of 190kW and 580Nm, transferred to all four wheels via VW’s 8-speed automatic gearbox. Styling cues echo the Aventura Exclusive from last year’s Frankfurt motor show.
In completely unrelated news the Ford Ranger Raptor remains silent in its corner with a good-enough 157kW and 500Nm but that’s okay because Ford engineers continue to persist with “it’s not about the engine”.
Sure Ford, sure… Anyway, this new Euro 6 compliant Amarok V6 double-cab will reach South Africa as soon as 2019 so if you can just hold out till then... “We have no intention of giving up the mantle of the most powerful [pick-up] in its class,” adds Carlos Santos, Volkswagen Group Australia director of commercial.
This news comes in a month when Toyota has sold 3825 Hiluxes and Ford sold 2753 Rangers. Placing them at no. 1 and no. 2 in the overall sales charts this month, so no slowing down there. Either way, it's a burgeoning market set to respond well to the onslaught of new bakkies.
Quick specs:
2019 VW Amarok 3.0 V6 TDI
|
|
Power
| 190kW |
Torque
| 580Nm
|
2019 Mercedes-Benz X350d
|
|
Power
| 190kW
|
Torque
| 550Nm
|
2019 Ford Ranger Raptor 2.0 Diesel
|
|
Power
| 157kW
|
Torque
| 500Nm
|
Oh yes! While you’re here
The new, beefier Amarok still not macho enough for you? Then look overseas at the Atlas Tanoak Concept truck – a unibody chassis as opposed to the traditional ladder-frame found in most bakkies. So more Golf GTI than Amarok if you can believe it.
