Volkswagen Amarok 2010

[DigitalBaka]

Wish this was available in the US. Not sure how well it would do versus Chevy, Ford, Dodge and Toyota but I'm reasonably sure it could kill everyone else...well, everyone that's left.

The Volkswagen Amarok is a mid-size pickup truck built by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV). The Amarok range consists of single cab and double cab, combined with either rear-wheel drive or 4motion four-wheel drive, and is powered by turbocharged gasoline orTurbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engines. VWCV considers the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton to be Amarok competitors, although it is bigger in size.


History
In 2005, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles announced their intent to build the Robust Pick-Up and off road family of vehicles.[3]

In 2007, automotive website WorldCarFans.com published the first photos captured by RoAnSa Carspy Photography of the development muleof the Robust Pick Up concept vehicle wearing Toyota Hilux sheetmetal on a Volkswagen-developed chassis.[4]



Amarok Highline double cab, Australia

In March 2008, automotive spy photographer Hans Lehmann captured the first image of the Robust Pick up wearing a production body which is designed by Walter de Silva.[5]

In September 2008, Volkswagen released the Robust Pick Up concept in a Search and Rescue (SAR) vehicle color scheme; the design is said to be 95% a production version.[6]

The Amarok, the first pickup from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, was presented to the general public in General Pacheco, Argentina on the 7th of January 2010.

Following the launch in Argentina, the Amarok was a key support vehicle in the 2010 Dakar Rally, with 45 being used.[7]

In November 2010, the Amarok was awarded 4 stars from Euro NCAP under the 2010/2011 standard crash testing procedure.[8] In February 2011, it received 5 stars from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).[9]

Naming
The name 'Amarok' was developed and researched by branding agency Interbrand on request from Volkswagen.[10]

Revealed to the public on 4 June 2009, "Amarok" means "wolf" in Inuit, and Interbrand also claims it is associated with "he loves stones" in Romance languages.[10] It also resembles "tomorrow" in Irish.[11] It is also the title of a 1990 record album by musician Mike Oldfield, a 2000 album of the German black metal solo project Nargaroth, and the name of an open-source music player (version 1.0 in 2004).

Volkswagen's association with 'Wolf' is referenced on many of its vehicles. Up until the 1980s, the 'Wolfsburg Crest', in various guises, was displayed on VW products, the most famous being theType 1. Up until 1964, the Wolfsburg crest badge was placed on the bonnet. The crest also appeared on the steering wheel hubs on many models. The Lupo (Italian for Wolf) was named in honour of Wolfsburg, the home of Volkswagen.[citation needed]

Engines
The Amarok is powered by a range of Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) common rail diesel engines, and Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) petrol engine.[12]

As of 2010, the engine range consists of two 2.0L Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) common rail diesel engines which is taken from the Volkswagen Transporter (T5), it has been tuned for more torque but less power; the entry-level version produces 90 kW (122 PS; 121 hp) which develops a maximum torque of 340 N·m (250 lb·ft) from 2000 rpm. The top of the line bi-turbo version produces 120 kW (163 PS; 161 hp) which develops a maximum torque of 400 N·m (300 lb·ft) from 1500 rpm.12000000


Fuel consumption in a combined cycle format is as low as 7.6 L/100 km (37 mpg-imp; 31 mpg-US) on the rear wheel drive variant to 8.1 L/100 km (35 mpg-imp; 29 mpg-US) on the 4Motion theoretically giving the Amarok a 1,000 km (620 mi) range before filling up for fuel.

As of the 2012 Model Year Volkswagen has introduced two more engine configurations, 2.0L TDI 90 kW motor upgraded to 103 kW of power[13] and a 2.0L Bi-TDI which has an optional 8-speedZF engineered automatic transmission.[14]

Engines
ModelYearsEngineDispl.PowerTorque
2.0 TSI2011–I4 16V1,984 cc (121.1 cu in)118 kW (160 PS; 158 hp) @ 3800–5500 rpm300 N·m (220 lb·ft) @ 1600–3750 rpm
2.0 TDI (CR) DPF2010–2011I4 16V1,968 cc (120.1 cu in)90 kW (122 PS; 121 hp) @ 3750 rpm340 N·m (250 lb·ft) @ 1750–2250 rpm
2.0 TDI (CR) DPF2012-I4 16V1,968 cc (120.1 cu in)103 kW (140 PS; 138 hp) @ 3750 rpm340 N·m (250 lb·ft) @ 1750–2250 rpm
2.0 BiTDI (CR) DPF2010–I4 16V1,968 cc (120.1 cu in)120 kW (163 PS; 161 hp) @ 4000 rpm400 N·m (300 lb·ft) @ 1500–2000 rpm
2.0 BiTDI (CR) DPF2012–I4 16V1,968 cc (120.1 cu in)132 kW (179 PS; 177 hp)420 N·m (310 lb·ft)
Driveline
The Amarok has three drive concepts: rear wheel drive, Shiftable 4Motion and Permanent 4Motion. The Shiftable all wheel drive system can shift drive between the axles whereas the Permanent full-time all wheel drive system distributes power through a Torque Sensing (Torsen) differential with a 40:60 ratio between the front and rear axles.

Production sites and figures
It's destined for sale across South America, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Europe.

The Amarok is currently being produced in the Volkswagen Group plant in General Pacheco, Argentina;[15][16] for South American, Mexican,[17] Oceanian, South African, Russian, and Europeanmarkets.[6]

It is expected to produce 90,000 Amaroks annually once production it is at full capacity.[16]

The Hanover site was dropped from possible sites to produce the Amarok due to the Global Financial Crisis and increasing economic costs in Europe in 2009.[16]

In September 2010 it was decided by the Volkswagen Group Board of Management that 40,000 Amarok pickups will be built in Hanover, Germany for the European and small volume markets from the middle of 2012.[18]

The 100,000th Amarok was produced on the 8th of October 2011.[19]

Amarok introduced at Taiwan market from 2012 (2.0BiTDI 6MT highline)

Production Figures:

• 2009 = 193
• 2010 = 44,525
• 2011 = 25,518 (until May 2011)

The Amarok has not sold well in Australia. This may be due to a lack of models on offer compared to competitors. In 2012, it did not make it into the top ten selling utes in Australia. It was outsold by the Toyta Hilux, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Triton and Ford Ranger, among others.

Availability
Currently[when?] the Amarok is available in South America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, Russia as well as the rest of Europe. However, a recent[when?] exodus of other mid-sized pickup lines in North America has created an opening in the market. VW is in talks with Canadian and U.S. dealerships to introduce the pickup to the continent.[20]

While about 1% of vehicles sold in the U.S. are diesel, it's been determined that about 3.5% of Canadians buy diesel vehicles (more than hybrid and electric vehicles). This statistic is achieved with very few diesel options available (particularly in the car and light-truck market). It's estimated that 40% of VW (and 75-80% of Mercedes-Benz) customers will choose diesel when given both options. Canadian customers tend to prefer efficiency and resale value while U.S. customers continue to have a negative impression of diesel engines because of historical experiences with the technology from the 1980s. The company has indicated that they will proceed slowly to evaluate the potential market with a potential entrance coinciding with the newest model of the Amarok.[21]

Model lines
Three equipment lines will be offered on the Amarok; base version, Trendline and Highline.

Base version
The base version comes equipped with 16-inch steel wheels, height-adjustable front seats, variable folding rear bench seats, locking glove box, cargo platform lighting, antenna integrated within wing mirrors, manual window regulators, manual door locking and manual wing mirror adjustment. The front bumper, wing mirrors and door handles come in black.



2011 Base model 4x2

Trendline
The Trendline grade has over the base version electrically operated door locking, electric windows and wing mirror adjustment as well as a radio with a CD player, climate control (Climatic), multi-functional display, cruise control, front fog lights, 17-inch aluminium wheels. Also painted in the body colour are the front bumper, door handles and wing mirrors.

Highline
The Highline grade has over the Trendline part chrome mirror housings, chrome strips on radiator grille and around the fog lights, chrome rear bumper bar 18-inch aluminium wheels, automatic climate control (Climatronic), leatherette/leather fabric on the interior.



Volkswagen Amarok Highline Interior for the Oceanian market
Platform variants


Volkswagen Amarok single cab. VW quotes 36.2mpg fuel consumption
The Amarok was launched in a Double Cab variant with the Single Cab first launching in late 2011 in South Africa [22] and Europe [23]

Other variants
XXL
Offers an extended bed with 2.21 meters of space and a slightly longer wheelbase.

Chassis cab
In 2006 the Australian publication Transport Today reported that Phil Clark, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Director in Australia, was trying to persuade Volkswagen's head office to add a chassis cab programme to Project RPU.[24]

Cab Chassis variants of both the Single Cab and Double Cab will launch with the 2012 Model Year range.[25]

Spin-offs
Rumoured platform spin-offs include a five to seven seat SUV to compete with Nissan Xterra and Toyota Hilux SW4 to be built in Brazil for the South American and European markets.[26][/quote

 

[DigitalBaka]

Edited the pics. The orange is the Canyon special edition concept. According to some news from the Geneva show VW are watching to see how the GM mid-size trucks are doing to help determine if they will bring a truck to the US, either the Amarok or something new.

If VW is looking here...I'll buy one!

 

[StarLight]

I like this pickup ... a VW always looks familiar.
👍

 

[DigitalBaka]

I agree. VWs are similar to each other without being "cookie cutter". And in my opinion you have to pay significantly more money to get a better interior.

 

[The Stig Farmer]

This look really good in brown.