The wait is almost over, Volkswagen Amarok buyers.
Pre-orders for the new Amarok dual-cab ute are now open and the configurator is live on the Volkswagen Australia website, ahead of first deliveries early in May.
Volkswagen has shared images of some of the first cars to be registered in Australia, following on from pictures snapped by eagle-eyed Australian buyers awaiting delivery of their cars.
It has also confirmed fuel economy for the full range; you can check details out in our full price and spec story here.
When it arrives, Volkswagen expects the Amarok Style to be the top-selling model.
It’s priced from $66,990 before on-road costs, and goes head-to-head with the Ford Ranger Sport and Wildtrak, the Toyota HiLux SR5 and Rogue, and the range-topping Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain and Mazda BT-50 Thunder.
As previously signposted, the Aventura and PanAmericana will be the first Amarok models Down Under, with lower-end models following not far behind.
The company has fielded more than 10,000 expressions of interest for the new Amarok, suggesting it’ll be hot property at launch.
But the fact it’s made in South Africa, and the fact Volkswagen Australia is the biggest market for the Amarok, mean the team at VW expects to have “good stock” of the new ute.
It’s expected to compete with the T-Roc for top billing on the Volkswagen sales charts, as the brand cashes in on 12 years worth of previous-gen Amarok owners keen on a new model, along with family buyers who ruled out the now-defunct first-generation car due to the lack of rear side airbags, among other safety features.
Under the skin, the new Amarok has been developed on the same platform as the latest Ford Ranger.
Three engines will be offered: a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder (in two states of tune), a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6, and a 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
While the Ranger will be offered with the 2.3-litre petrol engine in other markets, in Australia it’s a diesel-only affair.
Volkswagen will offer five trim levels: Core, Life, Style, PanAmerica, and Aventura.
Pricing starts at $50,990 before on-roads and extends to $79,990 before on-roads in Australia.
Braked towing capacity is up to 3500kg and there’s a 6500kg gross combined mass. Payload is up to 1200kg depending on model.
Fording depth has increased from 500 to 800mm and thanks to the now-shorter overhangs, the front angle of approach figure is now 29 degrees, the departure angle is 21 degrees, and the ramp angle is 21 degrees.
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