Volkswagen Amarok W580 the 'ultimate GT-spec ute'

Volkswagen Australia has joined forces with Walkinshaw Automotive Group to produce an aggressive, sporting new special-edition dual-cab 4x4 ute – the Volkswagen Amarok W580.

Picking up where Walkinshaw’s retiring HSV Colorado SportsCat left off, Volkswagen has looked to the Melbourne-based auto engineering, design and now vehicle conversion specialist to create what it calls the “ultimate GT-spec ute” that will line up against the Ford Ranger Raptor.

Unveiled today ahead of order books opening on December 1, the Volkswagen Amarok W580 takes the current range-topping $72,790 TDI580 Ultimate V6 turbo-diesel dual-cab to new heights in terms of on-road dynamics with a unique suspension tune, custom twin exhaust system and Walkinshaw-designed 20x9.0-inch dark ‘Clayton’ alloy wheels with Pirelli Scorpion 275/50R20 tyres.

This larger-diameter rubber increases the ride height, while the front suspension has been lifted by 40mm at the front axle line “to give the vehicle a more aggressive overall stance”.

There are wheel-arch extensions to match the new wheel and tyre spec, wrapping into the front-end which is dominated by a Walkinshaw-sculpted grille and lower bumper flanked by bi-Xenon headlights up top and with LED fog lights integrated below.

The bonnet and flanks of the ute carry bold decals, while the rear-end has a fat body-coloured sports bar and, underneath, distinct black side pipes at the rear wheels.

Inside, there is W580 branding including plaque with build number, denoting this as a limited-edition model, although a strong uptake could see it continue as a permanent member of the range.

While orders begin at dealerships and online on December 1, first deliveries will not take place until April 2021.

The ‘Clayton’ wheel is a reference to Walkinshaw’s base in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs, which is also the site of the original Volkswagen assembly plant that back in the 1950s was churning out the Beetle for Australian consumption.

There are no changes to the lusty 580Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel as seen in other 580 models, offering up to 200kW of power on overboost and matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission and 4MOTION 4x4 system with Torsen differential.

Describing the W580 as “more than just a token sticker pack”, Volkswagen says the Aussie-tuned German sports ute is the culmination of some 12 months of “closely guarded collaboration between Volkswagen Australia and Walkinshaw, which also saw technical support from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles head office in Hannover, Germany”.

“We have always known what a powerhouse we have in the Amarok, but have always felt the range needed a proper GT-spec model,” said Volkswagen Australia’s commercial vehicles chief Ryan Davies.

“As the originators of the performance ute category, we looked no further than Walkinshaw to achieve this.”

Walkinshaw chief designer Julian Quincey added: “The Volkswagen product seems to lend itself to a very high-performance GT image.

“You’ve got that terrific V6 diesel engine with class-leading torque, and it really does deserve a performance flagship in the range.”

VW says the first 30 customers who complete a pre-order online and then proceed to purchase an Amarok W580 will receive an “all-expenses-paid, money-can’t-buy, exclusive ‘Walkinshaw Experience’ which includes all flights, transfers, meals and accommodation to attend a Walkinshaw factory tour and a Walkinshaw Andretti United track day”.