2023 Volkswagen Amarok

A trio of diesels are confirmed, including a V6 headliner, but surprisingly VW Australia also plans to bring the 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol.

Depending on the country there’ll be either permanent or part-time four-wheel drive options – Australia’s option remains to be seen. A 10-speed auto and permanent AWD system will likewise be standard, as will the class-normal 3500kg towing capacity. There’ll be nothing quite like it in Australia’s diesel-heavy 4×4 ute market, provided Volkswagen Australia delivers.

By Scott Collie and Mike Costello. Volkswagen has finally revealed its all-new Amarok ute, ahead of its anticipated arrival in Australia early in 2023.

Volkswagen says a focus was placed on blending touchscreens and modern inputs with old-fashioned buttons for the sort of rugged, work-oriented buyers who like the Amarok. The new model is 1910mm wide, or 2204mm including mirrors, which is wider than before. From the side there looks to be different door sculpting and blisters above the squared-off arches. Base models will feature an 8.0-inch digital cockpit in front of the driver, while top-spec cars will get a full-digital 12-inch unit. At 5350mm long, the new model is 96mm longer than before. Next in line is a bi-turbo unit with 150kW or 154kW of power, and 500Nm of torque. The new Amarok goes big on screens. the latter 184kW matches that of the Ranger. There are also different wheels, sized up to 21 inches. Off-road capability is said to be improved. It’s mated with full-time four-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic. A digital instrument cluster will also feature.

Volkswagen has finally ripped the covers off its crucial Amarok ute, which will land in Australian showrooms early next year to take the fight right to the ...

As previously reported, the 2023 Amarok will launch with two flagship grades – the PanAmericana that is designed as a tough off-road truck, and the Aventura that is aimed more premium and on-road focussed. The rest of the Amarok line-up will be fitted with a six-speed automatic, while five- and six-speed manual gearboxes are also available across the range depending on market. For reference, the 2023 Ford Ranger diesel engine line-up starts with a 125kW/405Nm 2.0-litre, moves up to a 154kW/500Nm 2.0-litre bi-turbo and tops out with the 184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre V6 – which line up neatly with what is offered with the Amarok. The second-gen Amarok will also be offered with a petrol engine option, specially a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 222kW, but whether this is made available in Australia is still to be determined. At the top of the Amarok tree will be a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6, punching out 177kW or 184kW – again, depending the market. Buyers will also be able to choose a 2.0-litre bi-turbo-diesel engine with 150kW or 154kW – depending on the market.

The second-generation VW Amarok borrows the platform from the Ford Ranger. It's available in single and double cab body styles and five turbocharged ...

VW is proud to say the maximum payload capacity has increased to 1,160 kg (2,557 lbs) while the roof can support a static load of 350 kg (772 lbs), enough for a four-person roof tent that will be available as an official accessory. It sits alongside a digital instrument cluster with an eight-inch diagonal on the cheaper models and 12 inches for the upper trims. Running on a mildly modified version of Ford's SYNC 4, the touchscreen measures 10 or 12 inches depending on the trim level. Since we're on the subject of shoes, VW will sell the Amarok with standard 17-inch steel wheels, but the fancy ones will get a 21-inch alloy set for the first time. Depending on the region, there will also be a cheaper entry-level variant with rear-wheel drive. Developed from the ground up, the new Amarok has practically nothing in common with its predecessor of which more than 830,000 units have been sold since 2010.

The new Volkswagen Amarok boasts strong Australian design connections after Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles established a design studio in Melbourne for the ...

“While the Amarok has this tough and rugged character, it always looks great in any situation. “[...]Here in Australia, there are a lot of pick-up drivers who love to go off-road. “Travelling in Australia often means driving far distances and our Amarok is the perfect driving machine – on city roads or long highway trips it will take you safely and comfortably to your destination, and if you explore Australia outside the city in more remote parts of the country you will find kilometres of unsealed roads, gravel roads and dirt roads that can be challenging to drive on, but of course they are no issue if you drive the Amarok."

The 2023 Volkswagen Amarok has finally been revealed. Check out our gallery below to see the new Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux rival in detail. « Prev Next ».