Volkswagen Amarok W580X priced

Volkswagen Australia has announced a starting price of $77,390 plus on-road costs for its pumped-up, Walkinshaw-fettled 2022 Volkswagen Amarok W580X that’s due in showrooms in the second quarter of next year.

The price tag means VW’s Aussie-prepared, Argentinian-built pick-up undercuts the current Ford Ranger Raptor (from $79,390) that’ll be in run-out around that time as the new-generation Ranger draws close to showrooms mid-year ahead of an all-new Raptor due later in 2022.

That next Raptor will also likely serve as the basis for a flagship off-road version of the incoming second-generation Amarok, which switches to the Aussie-bred Ranger platform from 2023.

Meantime, the $77K marker for the 2022 Volkswagen Amarok W580X places it well above the Toyota HiLux Rugged X (from $70,750) and Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior (from $67,490), which have also been turned into more capable off-road machines by Australian-based development teams.

But the Amarok still has the advantage of a 190kW/580Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel, which remains unchanged for the X-rated W580.

The W580X slots in below the on-road-focused W580S, which will continue in 2022 but cops a $1500 price rise to $81,490 plus ORCs. The standard W580 will be dropped.

“The W580 will run out early in 2022 and will be replaced with X,” said Volkswagen Australia’s commercial vehicles director Ryan Davies.

“The 580S … will see us through to the end of the program around the end of 2022.”

With more than 1000 W Series Amaroks sold to date, the addition of the W580X will drive that figure up higher as strong demand for pumped-up hero utes continues in Australia.

As part of its upgrade, the Amarok W580X features a custom 4mm bash plate, custom rock sliders, integrated LED light bar, unique 18-inch alloy wheels shod with Pirelli Scorpion AT Plus rubber, Seikel differential breather and underbody protection kits, and MTV twin-tube dampers front and rear with a suspension lift.

Other highlights include wheel-arch extensions to house the chunkier rubber, unique grille design, bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, black wing mirrors, rubber floor mats and Walkinshaw-branded Art Velour seats.

A Seikel snorkel will be available for an extra $1390, while a $4690 ‘Luxury Pack’ adds Vienna leather upholstery, 14-way power-adjustable seats and a Discover Media infotainment system.

According to Volkswagen Australia’s product and commercial national manager Nicholas Reid, the idea of an off-road hero ute to complement the road-going W Series Amarok had been entertained early on in the project.

“When we first launched the car we went with the GT focus. But we started straight away working on an off-road version,” he said.

“We’ve replaced the standard side steps with rock sliders. They are engineered to take three times the vehicle weight.

“They are clamped, not bolted, to the car. We don’t compromise the chassis by drilling into it.” Referring to the upgraded suspension and how it differs from the ‘GT’ version, Mr Reid said the dampers have been made “more compliant with a more off-road tune”.