New Volkswagen Amarok Breaks Cover.

New Volkswagen Amarok Breaks Cover.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will launch its next generation Amarok pick-up in Ireland later this year. Designed and conceived in Germany and Australia and made in South Africa – it will be capable of even more, both on- and off-road. The new Amarok will once again take its place at the top of the pick-up B segment with excellent specification, a greatly expanded array of driver assist features and a much larger range of drive systems than its predecessor.

A first few disguised models of the new Amarok are already out and about in Europe. Behind the camouflage, the all-rounder’s innovative, premium design has been redefined. A powerful, charismatic exterior meets with a high-quality interior. Despite the disguise, it is already possible to identify how the dimensions have changed: at 5,350 mm the new model is at least 100 mm longer than its predecessor. A wheelbase of 3,270 mm equates to an increase of 175 mm – as a result there is more space in the double cab. The payload is also increasing to up to 1.2 tonnes and a maximum towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes is now possible across more engine/ gearbox variants.

As the wheelbase of the new Amarok is growing more than its total length, the bodywork overhangs are getting smaller. That has a positive impact on the approach angle and its off-road capabilities. The new Amarok’s latter qualities are further perfected by a much greater fording depth than the previous model. Dependent on engine/gearbox variant and market, the engines available will be one petrol and up to four different diesels with four to six cylinders and cubic capacity of 2.0 to 3.0 litres – optionally with rear-wheel drive, or on-demand or permanent all-wheel drive. A great array of preconfigured driving modes with multiple levels assists the driver, including in non-everyday situations. Drivers of the new Amarok will in future be able to take on practically every challenge they encounter on their adventures big or small in their everyday pick-up routine. Enhanced safety, meanwhile, is provided by more than 30 driver assist systems, more than 20 of which are completely new to the Amarok.

Design as a statement of dominance.

While it is hidden behind camouflage for now, in future the pick-up’s exterior will present itself in powerful, charismatic form. “For the new generation we have significantly modified the Amarok’s archetypal design. It is now unambiguously more expressive and once again appreciably more impressive”, says Albert Kirzinger, Head of Design at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

The new front section is a statement in itself. Striking: the firm and very upright bonnet with its unambiguous VW DNA. Charismatic: the horizontal, upper bars across the radiator grille, with succinctly integrated, narrow LED headlights as standard on all versions. Offered as an option will be ‘IQ.Light – LED matrix headlights’; they underline the Amarok’s high-tech look. Below the bars the radiator grille unit merges, depending on version, in bespoke fashion into a horizontal division of the front section or into an X-shaped design on the top specification models. Embossed here: the word ‘Amarok’.

Particularly pronounced in silhouette: the half-round wheel arches as on the previous model. In contrast to many other pick-ups the top of the arches forms a practically straight rather than a circular line – a typical Amarok characteristic. The wings above the up to 21-inch alloy wheels and all-terrain tyres (available for the first time as standard) have a powerful look.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ new pick-up is striking from the rear too. The wide tailgate is framed by the standard LED rear lights, and the word ‘Amarok’ is embossed across practically the tailgate’s full width. As in the previous model, there is sufficient space on the cargo bed between the wheel arches for a euro pallet to be loaded in sideways and strapped in place there to robust lashing rings.

An interior for professional tasks and long journeys.

With its intuitive controls, digital cockpit and tablet-style infotainment display, the Amarok’s interior has a functional, high-quality appearance. Such details underline the premium character of the pick-up. Further contributing to this as options are an exclusive sound system, the elegant leather-look surfaces of the instrument panel and door panels with distinctive decorative stitching. The vehicle’s premium positioning is matched by the seating. It gives all passengers the customary Volkswagen comfort: drivers and front-seat passengers sit in the new Amarok on comfortable, wide seats, which can optionally be configured with electric, 10-way adjustment. The rear also offers plenty of space for three adult passengers to enjoy the journey.

There will be five trim versions of the new Amarok: the entry-level version is the ‘Amarok’. It is followed by the ‘Life’ and ‘Style’. To be offered by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as equal top versions will be the ‘PanAmericana’ (off-road character) and the ‘Aventura’ (on-road character).

Following in the wheel tracks of success.

More than 830,000 units of the Amarok have been sold to date in Europe, South America, South Africa and Oceania. The strengths of the successful premium pick-up: supreme drive systems, high load capacities, systematic functionality and an authentic all-terrain design. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is further developing these strengths with the new generation.

The new Amarok will launch in Ireland at the end of 2022 with double cab and four doors (DoubleCab), and in some individual markets with a two-door single cab (SingleCab).

Alan Bateson, Director for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland, said: “We are really excited to launch our new Amarok in late 2022, we have given the strength and power of the new Amarok an unambiguous expression with clear Volkswagen DNA, inside and out. It will be great to re-enter this important segment for us and to deliver a brand new experience for our customers with this amazing vehicle full of new innovation and premium design.”