Volkswagen reveals Amarok

One of the most highly-anticipated new car arrivals of 2010 has broken cover early with Volkswagen Commercial releasing official images and details of the Amarok pick-up. The first ever European pick-up is set to arrive in Australia in the third quarter of 2010 and go head-to-head with the Toyota Hilux.

Production of the Amarok is set to begin in Argentina in December but Australia's will have to wait until after South America and Europe get dibs on the new ute. Right-hand drive versions are set to go on sale in the UK in September, so Australia can expect a similar timeframe.

"We are looking at the second half of next year to get the Amarok in the country," Anke Koeckler, Volkswagen Australia managing director, told the Carsales Network recently. "We are planning our production because we see huge opportunity and right now we are in negotiation and discussion with the guys from Hannover. And it seems pretty good, which is good because it's a pretty important product for us."

Volkswagen, though, understands the importance of the pick-up in the Australian market and it is believed both petrol and automatic versions of the Amarok are under development to better cater for local demands; however officially neither of those two features have been confirmed.

What has been confirmed is that the Amarok will launch in dual cab form with the choice of two diesel engines. The first is a single turbo unit rated at 90kW and 340Nm and a twin-turbo variant that will produce 125kW and 400Nm.

Both engines will be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and there will be a choice of rear-wheel drive 4x2, part-time 4x4 and fulltime 4x4 using a modified version of the 4MOTION system from the Touareg.

Although the company has yet to release fuel consumption figures it claims that thanks to an 80-litre fuel tank the Amarok will have a range of over 900km.

Measuring 5.25m long, the Amarok will have a payload capacity of up to 1100kg and be capable of towing up to 2800kg. The firm has also revealed there is 1222mm load space between the rear wheel-arches to optimise load carrying capability.

The Amarok will come fitted with an electronic differential lock (EDL), off-road ABS (anti-lock braking system), hill decent assist and hill hold assist for improved off-road performance.

There will be three trim levels available -- Amarok, Trendline and Highline. The base Amarok will be the basic workhorse and come equipped with 16-inch steel wheels, manual windows, door locks and mirrors as well as unpainted bumpers, door handles and mirrors. But it will come with height adjustable seats, variable folding rear bench seat, locking glove box and rear tray light.

Amarok Trendline comes with body coloured front bumper, door handles and mirrors, electric windows, door locks and mirrors, CD player, climate control air-conditioning, multi-function display, cruise control, front fog lights and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Amarok Highline will be targeted at 'lifestyle' buyers and come fitted with 17-inch alloys under extended wheel arches, chrome accents both inside and out, automatic climate control, leather trim, "elegant" cloth seats and better sound system.

Volkswagen has also confirmed that a single cab version of the vehicle will follow in 2011.

With the pick-up segment accounting for over 100,000 sales each year Volkswagen knows the importance of getting the Amarok right in Australia. Koeckler admitted that while the Hilux is the clear sales leader it would remains VW's benchmark.

"Hilux is the biggest, yes, but nevertheless we compete and compare with Hilux," she said.

"Regarding volume we still considering because we haven't yet finalised our pricing position and our product position," she added. "We are still in negotiation and by the first half of next year we'll have a lot of discussion with the Hannover guys, from a production point-of-view then a product point-of-view and then a pricing point-of-view, then we'll see.

"We still have to figure out how many options we would like to put in, because we like to put a lot of options in to make it interesting, but we also want to have a competitive price. So this we have to still negotiate and figure out. We have the first thoughts about it, but it's just a first thought."

We've already driven the Amarok but our drive impression is under embargo until December 15. So check back then to get a world first view on this crucial new model from VW.

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