New Volkswagen Amarok ‘W600X’ hero truck coming

If you thought the next-generation 2023 Volkswagen Amarok wouldn’t spawn a tough new flagship variant to rival the hard-core Raptor version of the new Ford Ranger on which it’s based, think again.

While a Volkswagen version of the upcoming 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor has been ruled out by Ford, the German brand looks set to once again pair up with Walkinshaw Automotive Group to deliver a rock-crushing new locally-developed Amarok range-topper to replace the upcoming 2022 Volkswagen Amarok W580X.

“We will definitely investigate a continued collaboration with Walkinshaw. We’d be mad not to,” said Volkswagen Australia commercial vehicles director Ryan Davies when asked about a follow-up for the Amarok W580X tough truck, which was officially launched today.

“This [new Amarok ute] will be the number one selling Volkswagen Group product in Australia, so it’s important for us to get it right and have something that our customers want, and we think there’s room in the market for a Walkinshaw-type vehicle for the new Amarok generation and we’re definitely going to try and capitalise on that,” Davies told carsales.

The all-new second-generation Volkswagen Amarok will be revealed on July 7, but the broader, higher and tougher new Walkinshaw version is unlikely to surface until around 2025, said the VW exec, who explained it would take time to research and develop a new flagship ute.

“Having something in that [tough truck] space is definitely on our radar, and Walkinshaw are the best people to partner with going forward with something like that,” he added.

“It’s been hugely successful for us. It’s been able to lift the profile of not only the Amarok brand but the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand as well.”

And yes, it’ll continue to offer stump-pulling V6 power.

The new-generation W-Series Amarok will be a V6 turbo-diesel proposition – not V6 turbo-petrol powered like the new Ranger Raptor, which means it’s unlikely to challenge the Ford’s class-leading 292kW of power – but will deliver more torque and a longer driving range.

Expect the second-generation VW Amarok W-Series hero utes to pack the same ‘Lion’ 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 that will be available in its sister model, the Ford Ranger, in which it will be good for at least 184kW and 600Nm.

Driving all four wheels via a new permanent 4x4 system and a 10-speed automatic transmission, it could therefore be called the Amarok W600X, and may be joined by a road-focussed W600S model to replace the sold-out W580S.

For reference, the outgoing original Amarok V6, including the W580S and W580X, employs an eight-speed auto and a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel producing 190kW and 580Nm.

Like the current W580X dual-cab 4x4 ute, which is priced at $78,890 plus on-road costs, the all-new hero truck is expected to bring several upgrades including enhanced suspension, more ground clearance, all-terrain tyres, rock sliders, underbody protection, an LED light bar, new front-end styling and subtle interior upgrades.

In total, around 2600 W-Series utes will end up rolling off Walkinshaw’s Melbourne production line by the time the original Amarok is retired at the end of 2022.

The first-generation Volkswagen Amarok has been on sale in Australia since 2011 and dealer stock is expected to be depleted by year’s end, ahead of the MkII Amarok’s local arrival in early 2023.

Australia is currently the Amarok’s second-biggest global market, but Volkswagen expects the new model will stoke buyer interest like never before and elevate the Aussie market to the number one position.

Significant elements of the new Amarok’s development took place in Australia, but Volkswagen has no plans to deliver an off-road SUV version of the MkII Amarok based on the new Ford Everest.

Locally-developed flagship off-road utes are gaining momentum in Australia, with the likes of the Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior, built by Premcar in Melbourne, having to increase its production output due to high customer demand.

Other Australian-engineered and modified tough trucks with factory backing include the Mazda BT-50 Thunder and Toyota HiLux Rugged X, pitched at buyers who would normally upgrade their vehicles with aftermarket parts.

A handful of the current Aussie-fettled Amarok W580 models have been sold in New Zealand and while Davies wouldn’t rule out future export markets for the second-gen W-Series utes in future, he said Australian customers were the focus.

“When we initially started looking at it, we talked to the South African guys as well, to see if they had some interest. There might well be other markets, but it’s certainly not what’s driving it though.

“At the end of the day we want to have something that appeals to our market and has that Australian edge, and meets the needs of dual-cab ute buyers in Australia. [Exports] Wouldn’t be something that’s driving our thinking – it would be more of a consequence of what we’ve achieved.”

Watch this space on Friday (May 20) for our first drive review of the 2022 Volkswagen Amarok W580X.

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