Amarok preview in Sydney

It's the light commercial vehicle that has competitors running scared. Volkswagen's Amarok is scheduled for a local launch during the first quarter of next year -- and the word is out that it will be a formidable competitor in the VFACTS pick-up and cab-chassis segments.

In the meantime, the importer will unveil the new model to the public at the Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) in Sydney around the middle of next month. Press material issued by Volkswagen today suggests that the Amarok on display in Sydney will be a dual-cab variant, although single-cab models will form part of the range also.

All the turbodiesel engines powering the various Amarok models will be direct-injected -- with the strongest of the lot, a 120kW powerplant for the Amarok TDI400, featuring a twin-turbo set-up to boost output.

According to VW, the Amarok combines passenger-car safety and comfort with robust design and outstanding load-carrying capacity. The importer claims that spaciousness in the cabin places the Amarok at the head of the segment and passive safety features include dual front airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags for front occupants and three-point seatbelts for all seats. Among the Amarok's active safety features are standard stability control with offroad mode, electronic differential lock, traction control and ABS.

It doesn't end at the cabin either. Boasting a load width of 1222mm between the wheel arches, the Amarok has been designed to accommodate European pallets -- measuring 1.2 x 0.8m -- sideways. It's the first time that a pick-up of this size has sold in Australia with the facility to haul European pallets, says Volkswagen, the importer further suggesting that the Amarok makes the ideal means of transporting motorbikes at the weekend.

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