A fleet of 35 new Volkswagen Amarok pick-ups successfully fulfilled their role as support vehicles to the winning Volkswagen motorsport team and the official organisers, ASO, in the gruelling long-distance Dakar Rally enduring extreme temperatures, altitudes and terrains with no problems at all.

Volkswagen successfully defended the Dakar title with a 1-2-3 finish at this year’s Rally, known as one of the world’s toughest endurance tests. Alongside the successful Race Touaregs, the back-up teams travelling in the Volkswagen Amarok pick-ups completed all 14 legs of the race and reached the end of the rally in Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, while only around half the competitors actually made it to the finishing line.

‘The event allowed the Amarok to give a clear demonstration of its abilities and robustness,’ said Dr Wolfgang Schreiber, member of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Board of Management in charge of development. ‘It’s simple,’ he continued, ‘the Amarok is the Volkswagen of Pick-ups.’

The Volkswagen Amarok had no problem mastering the demanding challenges it was subjected to during the 9,000 km trip from Buenos Aires across the continent to Chile’s Pacific coast and back. The Amarok motored on undeterred by the 50°C heat of Argentina’s Fiambala, by the San Francisco Pass across the Andes in Chile at an altitude of more than 4,700 metres or by the taxing terrain of the Atacama, the driest desert on the planet.

The new Volkswagen Amarok arrives in the UK this September and is scheduled for Australian release shortly after.

Dakar Amarok

wow looks like a bitsashitti
shame they all look the same
but good to see another variant acoming

I'm sure my buggy could have done all that if it had a factory team to fix it when it broke down.

I like these things, cant wait to see what my mates is like when he gets it, he has already decided its his next car purchase!

I don't really understand why VW felt the need to enter the highly crowded and competitive market of the 4x4 dual cab pickup, but they've certainly engineered an impressive vehicle to do the job. I suppose after the Touareg it was the next logical step, but neither the Touareg or Amarok are anywhere near traditional VW territory. Surely they can't make everything! What's next, motorcycles? Good luck to them though.

Volkswagen has said that they aim to be the biggest car company in the world by 2018, which means making a vehicle for every possible market segment. They already own Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Skoda, as well as a controlling interest in Scania trucks. VW owns 25% of MAN trucks, and recently bought 20% of Suzuki. And yes, VW has a marketing agreement with KTM motorcycles in Europe. DKW and NSU used to be the world's biggest motorbike makers at various times - both are now part of Audi, owned by VW.

Our current Japanese 4x4 dual cabs are cheap and cheerful (many of them actually made in Thailand). Volkswagen plans on doing better. It will be available with high-tech 4Motion 4WD, as well as the latest VW TDI engines and 7-speed DSG gearboxes.

I am not sure what you mean by 'traditional VW territory'. Five years ago we could have said that the Caddy small van was not 'VW territoy'; but now it dominates that segment. Same with the Eos coupe/cabriolet. Why should the 4x4 pickup market be any different?

What is 'traditional VW territory' ?

Also now VW is moving into the marine side of things arent they.

I think it's great that VW are building a ute... I'm not locked in that my next car purchase will be an Amarok, but it's up there probability wise.

Definitely looking forward to the Australian launch later this year !!!

I heard today that it will be sooner rather than later. Originally October launch, might now be brought forward a couple of months. Apparantly VWGA are falling over themselves to bring it here. It will certainly be at the Sydney Motor Show later this year.

Yes VW have been making marine engines for a few years now, all based on their TDI diesels. 4-cylinder - 40hp up to 75hp. 5-cylinder - 55hp up to 165hp. V6 - 225hp to 265hp. And their top marine engine - the Force 8 TDI with 350 hp - an engine based on the 4.2-litre V8 fitted to the Audi Q7 and A8. If you speak German, their website is http://www.vw-m.de/ 

As for the Amarok, VW will also release a single-cab version and a cab-chassis version a bit further down the track. It would also be suitable as the basis for an all-passenger SUV station wagon, to fit between the Touareg and the Tiguan.

I've just ordered my Amarok Highline. First time ever I have bought a vehicle without seeing it first. I hope I'm not disappointed.

OK.. So you doubt me or the dealer?

Quote:

Originally posted by phaeton Quote: Originally posted by StenGuns I've just ordered my Amarok Highline. First time ever I have bought a vehicle without seeing it first. I hope I'm not disappointed. I don't know how dealers sell cars without specs and pricing being confirmed yet Going to look at Polo 1.2 TSI and Amarok 2.0 TDI (monoturbo) Comfortline when they're released here and buy around June 2011. To wet your appetite http://www.volkswagen-commercial-vehicles.com/int/en/models/amarok.html  and a Amarok Group on facebook if your on it http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&ref=mf&gid=204334336515

This spec quoted at $70,241.00 (subject to fleet pricing and finalised options)..

Summarv Purchase lnformation
Volkswagen Amarok
Deep Black Pearlescent 2T2f UTE
Options
4X4 Dual cab 132KW 6 Speed manual
Black leather trim, metallic paint
Sunroof, RNS510 sat nav, 18" alloy wheels
3500kg Tow bar
We understand the quotation is to be finalised subject to fleet pricing and confirmation of options.

I think you will find it is only comes with the 120kw biturbo engine with 2800kg towing capacity

This guy has sold me about 20 VW's.. Where is your info from?

Hello Robert,

Sorry to take so long to get back to you, I have been advised that the Amarok will be released in Australia with 103KW TDI, 120KW and 132KW TDI,

Regards,

http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/news-and-reviews/car-reviews-road-tests/vw_a...

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/46815/2010-volkswagen-amarok-revealed-austra...

http://www.central.volkswagen-commercial-vehicles.com/etc/medialib/vwcms/virt...

I'm with you StenGuns... info I have from my guy is that there's definitely a 132kW version... which obviously is the one I'll be after also.

Hopefully just a case of the review sites etc. all going on outdated info from the December press launch in South America...

Don't rely on everything you read on-line. Info is Press Released and duplicated by hacks to fill space. Talk to someone that deals in them or VGA for accurate info..