After being subjected to numerous internet rumours and renderings of what the new Amarok might look like, it has finally arrived! VW has taken the covers off the second-generation Amarok, and this revelation has had the car community talking ever since. Here is why.
Exciting Exterior Design
A hefty global sales number of 830,000 units is a testament to how well the first Amarok was received. This meant that the new Amarok already had a strong reference point on which to build. The external changes to the pickup are substantial enough to excite customers, and yet restrained enough to not stray too far from the silhouette that so many Amarok fans have come to love.
The Amarok’s design language is sharper and more athletic. Despite having shorter overhangs, the bakkie is longer at 5,350 mm, with an increase of 173 mm on the wheelbase compared to the previous model. This gives the Amarok striking proportions and should help with approach and departure angles.
The Amarok will be available in double and single cab options and will offer five trim variants: Amarok, Life, Style, PanAmericana (off-road styling) and Aventura (exclusive styling).
Revamped Interior
The cabin has received extensive upgrades to ensure that the Amarok delivers to the lifestyle needs in which this segment now finds itself. A redesigned dashboard includes an optional 12″ virtual cockpit instrument cluster and a new tablet-styled 10 or 12” infotainment system, depending on trim. Other niceties include faux leather for the dashboard, aluminium accents on the centre console, and high-quality leather for the seats.
The new Amarok has been made even more practical thanks to increased rear passenger legroom courtesy of a longer wheelbase. The cargo box at the rear also comes with a 1.16-tonne payload limit (an increase from the outgoing model’s one tonne). The cargo area can also be secured through an electronically controlled roll cover that can be opened from the cargo box, the cabin or via the key remote.
Choice of Powertrains
The Amarok comes with five Ford-sourced turbocharged engines, including four turbo diesel (TDI) units. The recurrent theme with all these engines is efficiency and high torque output. Africa will get the base four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine which produces 110 kW. Above this unit will be a 2.0-litre four-cylinder TDI that churns out 125 kW. Next is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder TDI engine that delivers 150 kW with the aid of bi-turbocharging. The top TDI engine is a 3.0-litre V6 that develops 177 kW of power. Other markets that traditionally get petrol engines will have access to a 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 222 kW of power.
Depending on the engine type, you can have your Amarok with a 10-speed automatic gearbox served via a (by wire) e-shifter that replaces the outgoing model’s eight-speed auto. There will also be a six-speed auto transmission and manual six or five-speed gearboxes.
These transmissions power the wheels via a 4Motion all-wheel drive system, which can be used either as a permanent all-wheel drive or a selectable all-wheel drive system. VW claims that these powertrains will be suitable for a 3.5-tonne towing capacity.
What Else is New?
The Amarok comes with over 20 driving aid systems and six driving modes, ensuring that the driver is well taken care of in multiple scenarios.
The Amarok also comes with a wide range of optional accessories, including alloy wheels, all-terrain tyres, a four-person roof tent, and bull bar protection.
Last Word
Now that we’ve witnessed the covers come off the new Amarok, and like what we see, we cannot wait to get our hands on the Amarok for an in-depth review to see just where this new pickup will position itself in this highly contested segment.
Report by Bryan Kayavhu | Images © Volkswagen South Africa