Volkswagen Amarok PHEV draws near

Now the Ford Ranger PHEV has made its global debut, it should only be a matter of time before we get our first glimpse of the closely related electrified Volkswagen Amarok.

While the plug-in hybrid Ford Ranger’s commercial release is still more than 12 months away, its sibling from the German brand should appear before then in about seven months – if VW follows a similar reveal timeline as combustion-powered versions of the new Amarok.

If so, expect the Amarok PHEV to be revealed around March next year, ahead of its Australian release in the third quarter of 2025, but we’re yet to hear anything official from Volkswagen, which so far remains non-committal on the subject.

“Volkswagen remains committed to the electrification of a vast number of its models, starting for commercial vehicles with the ID. Buzz in 2024,” a local spokesperson said.

“We are currently working through significant orders at the top end of the Amarok range, and look forward to any evolution of the model range in due course.”

Global Volkswagen executives have spoken previously (most recently in December 2022) of their desire to launch a plug-in hybrid version of VW’s Ranger-based pick-up within the next three or four years, which would align nicely with our hypothetical timeline.

Given the new Amarok shares its Australian-developed platform and running gear with the latest Ranger, it’s almost certain the electrified version will feature the same 2.3-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder plug-in hybrid system as the upcoming Ford, which will maintain the PHEV ute’s payload, towing and off-road capabilities.

All three of these prerequisites were listed by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles executives at the Amarok’s global launch in December last year, when it was also decreed a mild-hybrid or series-hybrid powertrain would not fit the bill in terms of meeting Euro7 emissions requirements and maintaining these capabilities.

“As of now what I see personally, I see the way for the PHEV,” Amarok global product manager Peter Sulc told carsales at the time.

Adding to the likelihood of an Amarok PHEV emerging soon is the fact Ford has not yet confirmed where the Ranger PHEV will be produced, even though all Australian-delivered Rangers are sourced from Thailand.

Perhaps that’s an indication the Ranger PHEV will be built somewhere else, such as in South Africa alongside the Amarok.

Either way, unless BYD’s upcoming ute beats them here next year, the Ranger could become Australia’s first hybrid ute, followed by the Amarok, in 2025 – pending confirmation of a plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Triton, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-MAX, Mazda BT-50 or Nissan Navara.

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