Volkswagen Amarok Dark Label for Oz

Volkswagen Group Australia has confirmed the local availability of the special-edition Amarok Dark Label, and hinted at a more powerful version of its dual-cab ute.

To be positioned between the V6 Highline (from $59,990) and V6 Ultimate (from $67,990) released in November 2016, the Dark Label will be limited to 500 units with first examples available from April.

Pricing is yet to be confirmed but extras, as seen when the Dark Label first appeared at last September’s Frankfurt motor show, will include the following:

- Vienna leather trim
- Heated front seats
- Matte black sports bar and side steps
- Black wheel-arch flares
- New-design 18-inch anthracite alloy wheels
- Black interior trim, headlining and pillars

The Dark Label carries over its 3.0-litre turbo-diesel from other Amarok V6 models, delivering a class-leading 550Nm of torque and 165kW of power – rising to 180kW under overboost – via an eight-speed automatic transmission and permanent four-wheel drive.

However, Volkswagen has once again suggested it will release an even more powerful Amarok to take the fight up to the Mercedes-Benz X-Class twin-cab that arrives the same month as the Dark Label.

The top-shelf 3.0-litre V6 diesel-powered X 350d arrives around mid-year, brandishing 190kW/550Nm, matching the power output of the Amarok Aventura Exclusive concept that Volkswagen also showed at Frankfurt.

This and the following quote by VGA’s commercial vehicles director, Carlos Santos, is the strongest indication yet that a more powerful version of the German car-maker’s first pick-up is just around the corner.

“We’ve heard about this Mercedes-Benz collaboration with Nissan,” he said. “Don’t worry, the Amarok is not about to be left behind by the X-Class.”

Stand by for pricing and more images of the Dark Label, and details of Volkswagen’s new Amarok flagship.