Volkswagen Amarok 2023 will show on July 7, prices shortly thereafter – UPDATE

Volkswagen told us a little more about its long-awaited new Amarok ute shortly before its full opening and before it appears in showrooms around early next year.

Much of the design and technology for the second-generation Volkswagen ute has been handled in Australia, giving it a great chance to become Amarok’s leading market.

Updated May 17, storyline Originally launched on April 26: today Volkswagen confirmed that Australian prices for the new Amarok will be announced shortly after the world opening on July 7 this year, and says it is already accepting orders from people who want to be in the forefront.

This is because it is based on the next-generation Ford Ranger platform, which is being developed by Victoria’s Blue Oval exploration and development team. However, the VW team worked in parallel with the program.

While the Ranger will again be manufactured in Thailand, in 2023 Amarok production will move from Argentina and Germany to the Ford plant in South Africa.

In addition to showing photos of disguised late-stage prototypes undergoing testing, Volkswagen has provided some details to build customer expectations.

At a length of 5350 mm, the new model is about 100 mm longer than before. Its wheelbase is 3270 mm 175 mm longer than before, which adds interior space. Given that the wheelbase has grown in proportion to all vehicles, the front and rear departure angles should also be improved.

Volkswagen says it expects a payload of up to 1.2 tons on the “workhorse” versions, although one can expect the higher-end V6 “lifestyle” models to pay more attention to passenger comfort with a softer installation. VW also says that the ceiling depth of passage is greatly increased.

Worldwide there will be a choice of four diesel and one petrol with a capacity of 2.0 liters to 3.0 liters, as well as rear-wheel drive, partial 4 × 4 or full-time all-wheel drive all-wheel drive. Volkswagen says that towing with a capacity of 3.5 tons will remain.

The flagship transmission – expected to make up the core of Volkswagen Australia’s products as it currently stands – will ship a Ford diesel V6 (184 kW and 600 Nm in the Ranger) with 10-speed automatic transmission, not a VW that comes out from the car. 3.0-liter TDI V6.

Considering other engines borrowed from Ford, this includes a 2.0-liter single-turbodiesel with a six-speed transmission, a 2.0-liter biturbo with 10-speed automatic transmission and a 2.3-liter turbo-petrol EcoBoost. It is unclear what will be the missing option.

Given that the Ranger was designed to include a plug-in hybrid – which will be added over a lifetime – the Volkswagen version is worth considering.

In addition to the transition to the Ford T6 architecture, Volkswagen has made progress in a key area of ​​active safety, saying it expects up to 30 driver assistance systems, more than 20 of which are new – AEB, lane keeping, blind spot monitoring , adaptive cruise control and more.

In terms of design, the new front end will have horizontal top bars via a radiator grille, as well as fairly narrow LED headlights as standard for all versions. Matrix LEDs will be optional. Top grades will offer beautiful (up to) 21-inch alloy wheels and all-terrain tires.

The rear door should be framed again with standard LED lights, and the icon “Amarok” will be embossed almost the entire width. As in the previous model, the new Amarok can again place a pallet between the arches with coupling rings at the front and rear.

Volkswagen promises to offer different points of contact and some degree of differentiation from the Ranger inside. Expect a digital cluster and tablet-style infotainment display – in portrait orientation, like Ford.

The company promises an exclusive sound system, surfaces of appliances and door panels with firmware in the form of leather, as well as upgraded seats with an additional engine in 10 directions. “The rear of the Amarok DoubleCab also has room for three adult passengers,” adds VW.

Volkswagen says it expects five finishes: the entry-level version will have the Amarok brand, followed by the Life and Style classes. “PanAmericana” (off-road focus) and “Aventura” (on the road, lifestyle) will be exhibited as “equal top versions”.

It remains to be seen whether any locally configured versions of Walkinshaw will appear again, but companies are negotiating and it seems a formality.

To date, more than 830,000 Amarok units have been sold in Europe, South America, South Africa and Oceania. Australia is a key global market, accounting for about 10 percent of the total, more than 32,000 – it’s V6.