The final Walkinshaw-tweaked Amarok has been completed as its successor nears Australian shores
Volkswagen commercial vehicles has announced that the final Walkinshaw-fettled Amarok has come off the production line, marking 2600 utes built since the partnership’s inception.
Walkinshaw reassembled 1555 Amaroks into W-Series models during 2022 at its Clayton, Victoria facility, using up to 99 unique parts from 26 different suppliers.
The last Walkinshaw-built Amarok, number 2600, is a W580SE edition that includes as standard an integrated LED light bar, a spray-in tub liner and nappa leather seats. It’s priced from $86,990 before on-road costs.
Ryan Davies and Ryan Walkinshaw with the final build plaque for the W580SE edition
While the first-generation dual-cab ute is bowing out, the highly-anticipated second-generation Volkswagen Amarok is due to land in Australia in April 2023.
Volkswagen Australia says it led a team of 20 engineers and designers stationed locally to bring the next Amarok to life. The next-gen Amarok shares its platform with the T6.2 Ford Ranger.
Will Walkinshaw continue its partnership with Volkswagen?
The final Walkinshaw W580SE Amarok, but it won’t be the end for the partnership
Chasing Cars reported six months ago that the Walkinshaw Automotive Group will be continuing its partnership with Volkswagen commercial vehicles for the next Amarok.
Volkswagen Australia’s director of commercial vehicles Ryan Davies said at the time that work had already begun on the next W-Series Amarok.
And while Walkinshaw could make adjustments to the new Ford-based V6 engine, it’s unlikely to make any significant changes to the current 184kW/600Nm outputs
The new second-gen Volkswagen Amarok is set to gain Walkinshaw parts in the future
Volkswagen product and PR communications manager Daniel DeGasperi emphasised that providing a boost in power was not necessarily a high priority for customers.
“The diesel V6 is such an intrinsic part of the Amarok brand, and no one is really coming to us and going ‘that’s not enough power’,” he said.
“They’re actually coming to us and going ‘we want something like W580X that offers enhanced off-road capability to match the power.”
Walkinshaw and Volkswagen are set to produce up to 2000 vehicles a year to help meet on-going demand.
Keyword: Volkswagen Amarok 2023: final first-generation Walkinshaw dual-cab rolls off the production line