2023 Volkswagen Amarok due in Australia next April
High-grade Style, Panamericana and Aventura models will lead the charge for the new Volkswagen Amarok in Australia, followed by the base Amarok and mid-range Life later in the year.
The first examples of the new 2023 Volkswagen Amarok ute – a twin under the skin to the Ford Ranger – are due in Australian showrooms in April next year, a few weeks later than previously announced.
Volkswagen says the first examples of the new Amarok – co-developed with Ford, offering more technology than before, and Ford V6 diesel power – into Australia will the be more expensive high-grade models, known as the Style, PanAmericana and Aventura.
Lower grade models – the eponymous 'Amarok' and Life variants – are due to arrive in Australia by the middle of the year. Prices for the full range are yet to be announced.
Whereas the first-generation Volkswagen Amarok – which debuted in 2011 – was designed wholly in-house by the German car maker, the new-generation model uses the latest platform for the Ford Ranger, Everest, and Ranger Raptor.
This means the Volkswagen Amarok uses engines, technology and safety equipment sourced from Ford, and shared with its Ranger twin. However, all of the tuning, calibration and design has been done separately by Volkswagen for the Amarok.
The company is yet to confirm pricing for this new model – RRPs are expected to be announced early in the new year – however the company has revealed more details on each model.
The absence of detailed pricing information reportedly hasn't stopped Volkswagen Australia receiving pre-orders 'in the thousands'.
Volkswagen expects the new Style variant – which effectively replaces the previous Highline grade – to be the volume seller of the range.
This model comes with a 154kW/500Nm 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine as standard, with a 10-speed automatic gearbox and part-time four-wheel drive system.
The Style comes standard with matrix LED headlights, a larger 12-inch infotainment display, 12-inch digital instrument cluster and power-adjustable heated seats up front (with optional leather trimming).
Buyers can option a more expensive 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6, which makes 184kW/600Nm and runs through a 10-speed auto and permanent all-wheel drive system.
The Style is the cheapest Amarok variant available with the V6 engine. The higher-grade PanAmericana and Aventura have the V6 as standard equipment, but the latter also offers the choice of a 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder Ford engine, which makes 222kW/452Nm.
Ford’s 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 – as used in the Raptor – is understood to be off-limits for the Volkswagen Amarok.
The 2023 Volkswagen Amarok is due in Australian showrooms in April, pending any unforeseen delays. Click here to read Drive's first drive review of the new model in South Africa.