[ad_1]
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has been teasing the second-generation Amarok for nearly two years, but the midsize pickup hasn’t been revealed yet. Switching to the updated T6 platform used by the 2022 Ranger, the new truck could spawn a high-performance version to take on the Raptor Blue Oval. As a refresher, Ford will unveil its speedy ute sometime next month.
Meanwhile, Australian magazine Car Guide sat down and chatted with local VW Commercial Vehicles Director, Ryan Davies, about the future of the Amarok. He said that even if Ford won’t allow VW to access parts of the Ranger Raptor bin, there’s a backup plan in case the hotter Amarok gets the proverbial green light. How? By working together once again with Walkinshaw.
Formerly known as HSV, engineering firm Walkinshaw has collaborated with Volkswagen for a larger Amarok based on the outgoing truck. Launching in October 2020, the W580 has a bit more oomph and a more ruthless look to compete with the Ranger Raptor in Land Down Under.
Just like the old truck, the second-generation Amarok tweaked by Walkinshaw will feature a V6 TDI engine as VW Commercial Vehicles has confirmed the six-cylinder diesel will stick around for the new Ranger-based pickup. It’s unclear if it will be a true TDI in the sense that VW will use its own engine or will inherit the oil burner from Ford.
Ryan Davies spoke to Car Guide about the prospect of the more powerful Amarok, which may get an “R” suffix or other special designation to accentuate its top-range status: “There’s an opportunity for everything in the pickup segment. This is definitely an option. That’s what we need to investigate now. “
Due to be launched in the coming months, the new Amarok will only come thanks to VW’s partnership with Ford as the former admits that the truck will be discontinued. The teaser has shown that it will be more than just an updated Ranger, although logic tells us that some of the body panels might be shared between the top, apart from the foundation.
VW says the 2023 Amarok will be 100 millimeters (3.93 inches) longer and more than 40 mm (1.57 inches) wider than its predecessor. A variety of four-cylinder engines will be available under the V6 TDI, but it’s unclear if the petrol plant will be coming soon in some markets to reflect the new Ranger.
As previously reported, the next Amarok will be assembled by Ford along with its Ranger equivalent at the Silverton plant in South Africa.
[ad_2]
Source link
