VW planning more V6 Amarok models

Volkswagen is set to extend its V6 Amarok range in Australia, eventually to include a sub-$50,000 option and even a high-performance variant that could borrow the same state of tune as an Audi SQ5.

Speaking with motoring.com.au at the launch of the two-tier Amarok V6 range this week, Volkswagen Australia commercial vehicles director Carlos Santos said local stakeholders were now evaluating options outside of the new $59,990-$67,990 V6 offering.

“There’s a bit of room there,” Santos said.

“There might be some room between the $59,990 (current entry price of the V6) and the late $30,000 mark (for regular versions of the lesser-powered 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel). It’s an option that’s available to us that we’ll consider.”

VW Australia will also evaluate lower tunes of the new V6 engine such as 120kW and 150kW varaints -- as it does in Europe.

“Potentially, yeah,” Santos said. “We’ll start with the Highline strategy and then as we develop and move forward we’ll look at those options as they come available to us over time, definitely.

“There’s space for us to do quite a bit in both six-cylinder and four-cylinder.”

The big revelation from the V6 launch could be the segment’s first high-performance dual-cab utility. Sources have told motoring.com.au that the 3.0-litre V6 diesel could be easily tuned to higher outputs.

The same basic engine used in Porsches and Audis, including the prolific 230kW SQ5, the Volkswagen version’s only real changes include a different sump with larger oil capacity and new linings for the pistons and cylinders.

Furthermore, Volkswagen claims the Amarok’s eight-speed transmission can deal with up to 700Nm of torque.

Volkswagen is also pursuing a manual transmission version of the Amarok and the availability of a split transfer case, as opposed to the current model’s full-time all-wheel drive system.