Volkswagen Amarok ‘Raptor’ under consideration

Volkswagen is just about to unleash its first genuine hero ute – the Walkinshaw-tuned, V6-powered, $80,000 VW Amarok W580 – but the brand has been shy about outlining plans for a bona-fide Ford Ranger Raptor rival.

Until now.

While the Volkswagen Amarok W580 is designed for on-road excitement and spirited asphalt driving, in a strategy designed to give it a point of difference among the Ford Ranger Raptors and Nissan Navara Warriors, the brand is not immune to the allure of a rock-crushing off-road hero model.

“I think there’s still a place for an off-road version,” said Nick Reid, Volkswagen Australia’s commercial vehicle marketing and product manager, when asked if there’s been consideration for an off-road beast.

“The off-road market is huge and you can’t ignore that. So it’s something that’s at the back of our minds, always.”

Off-road vehicles are hugely popular in Australia and as more and more dual-cab 4x4 ute buyers demand something that stands out and delivers go-anywhere off-road capability, more car brands are looking at offering ultra-rugged vehicles.

And more and more mainstream brands are tapping local talent to achieve these ends.

Toyota Australia is looking to expand its Rugged X sub-brand for the HiLux ute to develop a mud-slinging six-cylinder LandCruiser 300 Series Rugged X at its Melbourne conversion centre.

Nissan has confirmed its V8-powered Patrol will get the Warrior treatment courtesy of local engineering firm Premcar, following in the footsteps of the Navara N-Trek Warrior.

And now Volkswagen appears to be spit-balling ideas for its own jacked-up Amarok tough-truck, with a little help from the Walkinshaw Group, which has developed the Amarok W580 ahead of its release in mid-April and also remanufactures right-hand drive Chevrolet Silverado and RAM pick-up trucks.

“We’re taking it one step at a time at the moment,” Reid said in response to questions around further Volkswagen-Walkinshaw collaborations.

“The aftermarket is huge so you can’t please everyone in that space,” he cautioned.

The Volkswagen Australia exec didn’t confirm a second, even more extreme Walkinshaw-fettled Amarok ute was on its way, but neither did he deny it.

“We haven’t even launched this [W580] car yet – we’re two weeks away from mass production. [But] all the signs are that it’s a really strong relationship and we seem to be working well together so who knows what the future holds?”

If Volkswagen does green-light a full-blown rival for the Ford Ranger Raptor, it would be based either on the existing Amarok and developed by Walkinshaw, or the second-generation Amarok and co-developed with Ford, which is currently working on the next Ranger and Amarok due on sale here in 2022 and 2023 respectively.