European sales of VW’s rival to the Ford Ranger will start towards the end of the year
- New technology will include 30 driver assistance features
- Big touchscreen to be fitted on range-topping models
- V6 diesel will feature again
The new 2022 Volkswagen Amarok has been shown in final testing wrapped in camouflage ahead of its launch towards the end of 2022. The pickup truck has been built in collaboration with Ford on an architecture shared with the Ford Ranger. VW claims to have maintained styling characteristics unique to the Amarok, including the half-round wheel arches seen on the previous model.
Prices are yet to be announced for the new Volkswagen Amarok but a V6 diesel engine is confirmed. A single petrol variant and four different diesels, including both four and six cylinder units, have been announced for future release but we are still waiting for confirmation on which will become available in UK showrooms. Two different all-wheel drive systems and a rear-wheel drive option have also been announced.
The latest images focus on the Amarok’s off-road ability, showing it driving through a wooded area and up dirt tracks. Volkswagen is keen to point out the advanced driver assist features and other technology as a leap forward from the previous Amarok model and a significant upgrade in capability.
Volkswagen has confirmed that the new Amarok will be 10cm longer and 4cm wider than its predecessor, which should improve interior space, particularly rear legroom. A longer wheelbase has resulted in front and rear overhangs that are shorter, a benefit to those that need a vehicle capable of taking on challenging terrain..
According to the brand, the loading bed of the new Amarok is also more spacious, and capable of fitting a Euro pallet (80cm x 120cm) between the raised wheel housings.Payload has also increased to 1.2 tonnes across all models.
The new images represent our best look yet at the exterior of the new Amarok with VW claiming that the truck has a ‘completely new appearance inside and out’. The LED daytime running lights follow the bottom of the headlight units before bending back towards the front wheels. The ground up approach to the design has led to a shape that is distinct but not dissimilar to the chunky style of the previous model. At the back, a pair of LED ‘u-shaped’ tail lights are visible, along with a chunky tailgate bearing the ‘Amarok’ nameplate.
Some of the interior technology will be shared between the two vehicles, with both getting a large portrait touchscreen on top-spec versions. Volkswagen promises significantly more driver assistance systems than the outgoing Amarok, which has been produced since 2010.
We know that the Ford Ranger is getting a 2.3-litre petrol engine (previously fitted to the Ford Mustang) and a 2.0-litre diesel engine with a 10-speed automatic gearbox but it’s not clear at this stage whether the Volkswagen will get these options too. The Amarok will be built at Ford’s Silverton factory in South Africa, and the Pacheco facility in Cordoba, Argentina.
Keyword: New Volkswagen Amarok pickup teased again before winter 2022 unveiling