Volkswagen’s all-new, Amarok bakkie has recently been unveiled. The Volkswagen Amarok fist launched way back in 2010 and had been one of Volkswagens success stories. Since 2010 a total of 830 000 units where sold globally and a total of 41 422 just in South Africa. The all new Amarok is based on the Ford Ranger’s T6 platform and also share tech and components with the Ford Ranger. With that said, the VW Amarok enters its second-generation boasting bold new looks, a range of powerful powertrains, a number of new model grades, a plethora of new technologies, convenience features, safety and many driver assistance systems to name a few.

The new Amarok will be launched with five specification variants. The entry-level is called the “Amarok”. You then get the Life and the Style packages followed by the top of the PanAmericana (accentuated off- road character) and Aventura (high-end specification with on-road character).

As for the inside of the Volkswagen Amarok, you will be pleasantly surprised. The new Amarok has an upmarket modern look and feel which includes soft touch materials in high-spec models. As for tech, the new Volkswagen Amarok now gets digital 8.0-inch instruments (‘Digital Cockpit’, fully digital and 12.0-inch in size on the Style and above) and a modern infotainment system with a display in tablet style (10.0-inch screen as standard, 12-inch on the Style and above). The infotainment system has both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay which is a must have in any new vehicle today. It also features new mobile Volkswagen online services and two USB ports.

The new Amarok comes with a staggering 30 driver assistance systems, 20 of them are all-new like the ACC+ Adaptive Cruise Control (incorporates road signs into the automatic control of speed via camera scans) and IQ.LIGHT – LED matrix headlights. The Amarok has up to six different driving profiles (Drive Modes) to assist the driver in a variety of situations – for instance, when driving on slippery surfaces or on demanding off-road terrain.

The Amarok will launch, varying by market, with four efficient turbodiesel engines (TDI) and one turbocharged petrol engine (TSI). In numerous countries – for example, the European markets – all versions will be shipped as standard combined with all-wheel drive (4Motion). The spectrum of diesel engines begins with three four-cylinder engines, in each case with 2.0 litres of cubic capacity. The base version specially developed for various African markets builds up 110kW and 350Nm. This engine version is equipped with a manual 5-speed gearbox and rear-wheel drive.

Following one level up comes a 125kW (170 PS) TDI with maximum torque of 405Nm, selectable all-wheel drive and manual 6-speed gearbox or a 6-speed automatic transmission depending on market. The most powerful four-cylinder TDI has a bi-turbocharger and – in markets such as Europe – puts top power output of 150kW (154kW in other countries) and 500Nm. In many countries this engine will launch in this power output class with permanent all-wheel drive (4Motion) and 6- or 10-speed automatic transmission.

The engine used as the top TDI is a 3.0-litre V6. In some markets different emissions stipulations result in a power output of 184 kW and 600Nm. The engine is paired to a 10- speed automatic gearbox and is coupled to permanent 4Motion all-wheel drive system. In some markets the new Volkswagen Amarok will be powered by a turbocharged 2.3-litre four- cylinder engine making 222kW and 452Nm is the maximum torque. The turbocharged petrol engine will be shipped with 10-speed automatic transmission and permanent all-wheel drive system.

The new Volkswagen Amarok will retail in South Africa from the first quarter of 2023.

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