Volkswagen Amarok 132TDI 4MOTION 2012 Review - International

Volkswagen Amarok 132TDI 4MOTION

Not so much
>> No pricing details yet... Could be expensive
>> Auto only available on top of the range dualcab
>> No external tiedown points on tray

Volkswagen has added an important tool to the Amarok's armoury -- an automatic gearbox. Although application of the new box will be limited -- at least initially -- to a new range-topping 132TDI turbodiesel dual-cab version, the arrival of the auto potentially opens up a whole new world of customers to the South American-built VW ute.

The auto is not related to the eight-speed gearbox used in Touareg and other Volkswagen Audi Group products. Though this writer (and all his colleagues) believed the Touareg box to be ZF sourced, VW Commercial staffers explained, it's only the Amarok that gets the ZF box. In fact, the Touareg's gearbox is sourced via Aisin.

Whatever its source, the eight-speeder does come to the Amarok matched to a revised version of VW's constant four-wheel-drive 4MOTION system. There is no low ratio. Instead it offers a rear difflock and very capable offroad mode that 'tunes' the traction control system, hill descent control (HDC) and antilock brakes.

Though some diehards will lament the lack of a transfer case, without putting too finer point on it, the auto and 4MOTION set-up makes the Amarok a foolproof go-anywhere proposition. Indeed, you'd have to be doing a lot wrong to get into strife.

Our first drive took place on a rocky hillside in the Sierra Nevadas high above the Spanish Mediterranean resort town of Marbella. And on the steep hillsides the car, even out of the box, proved extremely capable.

Volkswagen has worked to make the vehicle as easy to drive offroad as on it. For instance, the hill descent control is one-touch and intuitive. Once Offroad mode is activated so is HDC. Want to descend a little faster -- the touch the throttle and it will 'recall' the speed you've set. Need to slow -- brake to your desired pace and it will dial in the new speed.

If it's a serious decline then all you need do is come to a full stop at the top. As you go over the edge you simply roll off the brake, keep your feet away from the pedals and it walks down the hill. There's plenty of other systems that do the same -- it's the very simple application of the technology in this case that makes it so impressive.

Same can be related for steep uphills. The Spanish test course was dusty rather than slick but with non-OEM Goodyear Wrangler rubber and offroad tyre pressures, the Amorak excelled.

At the foot of one particularly steep pinch the VW helper suggested we engage rear diff lock and the car simply drove up the hill. We deliberately went slowly and it didn't worry the car in the slightest. Second time around we did not use the diff lock, did the same slow and steady approach and it still laughed at it.

A bonus of the new rear diff lock system is that it does not require you to disable the traction control system, rather when operated it automatically disables the system on the rear axle to allow the diff lock to do its work

This writer's limited offroad credentials were backed up by the 4x4 Australia's participant on the Volkswagen Oz trip, Tim Scott. Scott was generous in his praise for the system overall, but especially praised the quiet and smooth operation of the Amarok's HDC and traction controls. Often these systems sound like they are doing damage to the underpinnings such is the vibration, graunching and grinding that goes on.

We'll leave the discussions of wheel articulation and approach and departure angles to Scott and other serious 4x4 operatives. We can report, however, that despite some pretty extreme obstacles, there were no more than a couple of scrapes per lap of the test course.

It's worth remembering these test courses are constructed to show the vehicle off at its best. That said, it was a pretty impressive performance.

On the road, the 132TDI Amorak 4MOTION was also impressive. It's quiet and the eight-speed gearbox makes the most of the relatively narrow powerband of the twin-turbo 2.0-litre TDI four. Gearchanges are very smooth and the overall impression is more of a capable and civilised SUV than a workhorse one-tonner.

The 132kW engine is new to the Amarok range. Though Volkswagen Australia is not providing much information on its wider plans for Amarok, it is saying that for the time being the auto will be exclusively matched with this engine. As well as a power boost over the 120kW variant, there's also a torque hike. The engine now produces 420Nm -- and increase of 20Nm. The peak hits at 1750rpm but there better than 350Nm available from almost idle.

Detailed changes noted in the 132TDI we drove also included an auto stop-start system, which is disabled when used in offroad mode. Also noted was the arrival (finally) of steering wheel controls for the audio and Bluetooth phone systems. The latter addition is being rolled out as a change on all 2012 model year Amaroks.

Claimed combined fuel economy for the new Amarok TDI auto is 7.6L/100km. This, says VW, is better than the manual 120TDI variant of the crewcab. VW also claims a 'best in class' for the new ute.

Volkswagen specifies a maximum towing weight of 3200kg for the auto Amarok. This is an increase of 200kg. Payload has been trimmed marginally though this will be of little consequence to most user.

At this stage there are few other details to convey. The elephant in the room is price.

At this stage, VW Australia is either playing its cards very close to its chest or genuinely has not finalised pricing and specification details for the eight-speed-equipped Amarok. All we know for sure is it launches in Australia in July...

It'll be worth the wait, though how much you'll have to pay for the pleasure of the first-in-class eight-speed is rapidly becoming the $64,000 question...

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