VW’s ‘Rangerok’ follows familiar tech trail but cuts out own styling path

SAME birthright, different birthplace – that’s one of the differentiations between the new Volkswagen Amarok, unveiled tonight and expected in New Zealand from early 2023, and its twin.

It’s old news that Germany’s development from the new-generation Ford Ranger T6.2 right now entering New Zealand dealerships shares the Blue Oval model’s platform and key mechanicals, including all engines. And no surprise that it goes its own way in respect to styling, inside and out. VW has been saying for more than a year that this would be the case.

What’s been keep under wraps until the global reveal tonight, was the development background story – including revelation that three of the four years of project work to reach production, were spent at a special design studio in Melbourne, Australia, shaping the vehicle. VW engineers were also fully drawn into the Ranger’s development programme as well.

Made clear, now, is that whereas the T6.2 Ranger is delivering to us out of Thailand, the same plant that built the previous line, the Amarok is out of another Ford plant in another part of the world: Gauteng, South Africa. That’s a new location. The old Amarok mainly came from VW’s General Pacheco plant in Argentina, though for a time some V6s were out of Hannover, Germany. Production from Gauteng begins in January.

Also known now is that, while the local market seems only interested in one - the tubodiesel V6 - Amarok will deliver with almost as wide a span of powertrains as the Ford.

The only engine definitely off-limits is the 292kW/583Nm twin-turbo petrol V6 that goes into Ranger Raptor. That high-performance derivative appears set to have no equal in the Amarok family.

The German truck, whose name is means ‘wolf’ in the Inuit language spoken by people of the Arctic, does have a turbo petrol – but it’s a 2.3-litre four-cylinder.

Otherwise, the model is dedicated to diesel. There’s a 2.0-litre four-cylinder in three states of tune. The base is a single-turbo unit with 110kW/350Nm or an output that cites for entry Ranger, 125kW/405Nm. In Amarok, the lower output version occasions with rear-wheel drive and a five-speed manual as standard while the latter gets a choice of rear- or switchable four-wheel drive and a six-speed manual.

Next up is a bi-turbo unit with 154kW and 500Nm; again lineball with a unit chosen for Ranger locally. Depending on the market, it marries to either a six- or 10-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4Motion four-wheel drive.

The range-topping 3.0-litre V6, is with 177kW or (again, Ford-like) 184kW and 600Nm of torque. It’s mated with full-time four-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic.

Ford uses the higher power output version in the Wildtrak and Sport. VW’s previous V6 turbodiesel, which cracked out 200kW/580Nm, has been the Kiwi market staple for the past four years. Why change?

If you wondered about that four-pot petrol? It makes 222kW/452Nm and comes with full-time four-wheel drive and a 10-speed auto.

Braked towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes is as before, and also lineball with Ranger. So, too, the payload max of up to 1.2 tonnes.

No word, yet, on how many variants, exact specifications or, of course, of likely price. T 6.2 Ranger spans across 12 models, pricing from $46,990 to $89,990, with all its engines copping Clean Car CO2 penalities from $2473 to the maximum $5175 (reserved for the petrol six). Ford body styles span single cab, super cab and double cab. Amarok is purely the latter.

VW talks of a new ‘Pan America’ set-up designed specifically for off-roading – that’s the one in metallic finish with dark painted wheels - and continuation of the ‘Aventura’ derivative, seen in blue, which it now specifically cites as being for predominantly on-seal driving. There’s also lower-grade Style and Life looks and an entry spec, simply called Amarok.

The massive boost in technology – including a portrait-oriented touchscreen for the overhauled cabin, plus an extended list of safety and assistance systems – delivered behind the Blue Oval also avails behind the VW badge.

In respect to the exterior, VW worked hard to make sure it would be identified as an Amarok, not a rebodied Ford.

“For the new generation we have significantly modified the Amarok’s archetypal design. It is now unambiguously more expressive and even more impressive”, says Albert Kirzinger, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ design head.

VW is confident the new front makes a statement in itself and points to the straight and very upright bonnet being examples of unambiguous Volkswagen DNA. The same applies to the bars running horizontally across the radiator grille with the concisely integrated LED headlights, standard on all versions.

PanAmericana, Aventura and Style have ‘IQ.Light – LED matrix headlights’ which interactively light up the road “as bright as day” and have an unmistakable light design.

Below the transverse bars, the radiator grille unit merges depending on version into a further horizontal level of the front section or – in the case of the PanAmericana and Aventura – into an X-shaped design. Embossed above the number plate holder is the word ‘Amarok’.

In silhouette the wheel arches, which are half-round as before, are especially striking on both versions. In contrast to many other pick-ups the upper termination of the wheel arches forms a practically straight rather than a circular line – a typical Amarok design feature.

The wings above the up to 21-inch alloy wheels have a powerful look and around the wheel arches are clad with robust plastic. The shape of the panels creates a look of the Amarok slightly flexing its muscles. The new pick-up is striking from the back too. Beneath the large VW symbol the word ‘Amarok’ is embossed across almost the entire width of the tailgate.

The outer frame of the rear section is formed by the C-shaped tail lights, which reach far into the silhouette. On the PanAmericana and Aventura these are LED.

At 5350 millimetres, the new Amarok is 96mm longer than its predecessor. A wheelbase of 3270 mm represents an increase of 173mm. That provides more room, especially on the double cab’s second row of seats. The wheelbase has thus grown much more than the total length. And that shortens the body overhangs. The result, says VW, is sharper proportions and improved off-road capability thanks to better approach angles. The off-road capabilities are also enhanced by much greater fording depth for driving through watery terrain. Previously 500mm, it’s now 800mm.

As much as the hard points and base features are shared by both lines, VW has achieved its own instrument profiles. The display units comprise digital 8.0-inch instruments (‘Digital Cockpit’, fully digital and 12.0-inch in size on the Style and above) and a highly modern touchscreen in tablet format (10.0-inch in size; on the Style and above 12.0-inch as standard) for the infotainment system.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has implemented a mix of digital functions and ergonomically configured buttons and/or push/rotary switches in the Amarok because, it says, these are most intuitive to use. The infotainment system’s volume and all-wheel drive system’s settings are, for instance, controlled via such hard keys.

A sound system from Harman Kardon is standard in PanAmericana and Aventura; likewise a leather-look instrument panel with contrast stitching. VW says those models’ premium positioning is also matched by the new seating, in leather.

As was the case on the predecessor model, the cargo bed between the wheel arches has enough room for a Euro pallet loaded in sideways. The single cab version can even take two pallets loaded in sideways.

The load is strapped down via eye rings on the cargo bed, which can each take a load of up to 500 kilograms. In line with this high load capability, the maximum payload has gone up from a tonne to 1.16 tonnes. The cargo box can also be secured using an electrically operated roll cover. This roll cover can be opened and closed from the cargo box itself, from inside the vehicle or by remote control via the vehicle key.

An interesting factoid for globetrotters: The static roof load capacity is 350kg – sufficient, for instance, for a four-person roof tent that will be available as an accessory.

Either ex-factory or in the range of accessories, there will also be features such as alloy wheels up to 21-inch in size, all- terrain tyres (up to 18-inch) and a diverse array of trailer mounts. Further features available for the cargo box will include a bike holder, a multifunction carrier system, a manual version of the roll cover and a very diverse range of styling bars. There will once again be a hardtop for the cargo bed.

The off-road qualities, meanwhile, can be further optimised by a bull bar, underbody protection elements, all-terrain running gear, eye rings for hauling, and a snorkel attached on the outside to the left-side A-pillar for supplying the engine with fresh air when driving through water.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles sold more than 830,000 units of the first-generation Amarok and has cited New Zealand, along with Australia, as particularly important markets. The model also went into Europe, Africa, North Asia and South and Central America.

VW Commercials NZ general manager Kevin Richards has offered this comment: “The all new Amarok is set to usher in a new era for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in New Zealand.

“With cutting edge design and Volkswagen refinement the new ute brings with it a new level of safety and driver-aids along with some great features that will make it exceptional to drive.

“We’re thrilled to see the vehicle for the first time and can’t wait to have them on New Zealand roads to prove that they’re up there with the very best of the bunch.”