Volkswagen Amarok V6 TDI – Finally it’s happened to me

Amarok V6 TDI must be singing

Since its launch, it has taken flack for using a 2.0 engine when other bakkies have bigger, more torque-strong around 3-litre diesel engines.  It has (finally) happened:  Volkswagen is adding a 3.0 V6 TDI engine to the Amarok.  It must be singing “Finally it’s happened to me…”.

The VW Amarok is available in 2 versions of the 2.0 turbo diesel engine, in 2.0TDI and 2.0BiTDI.  The bi-turbo Bi-TDI (badged TDI) on paper shows this 2.0 can compete with 2.8 and 3.2 engines, producing 132kW (which is 2 more than the new Hilux 2.8GD-6’s 130kW) and not far off the Ranger / BT-50 3.2’s 147kW.  On torque, though, the smaller engine musters a bi-turbo-boosted 420Nm, falling short of Hilux’s 450 and Ranger twins’ 470Nm.  The Nissan Navara may be the oldest of the bunch, but its 3.0dCi V6 still out-outputs all newer bakkies, bragging with 170kW and 550Nm (refer back to these numbers later).

In on-road practise, the smaller engine relies heavily on the turbo’s (so the engine is worked harder (over-working?) with some fears of longevity) as the smaller capacity simply does not have the inherent torque one derives from a bigger engine.

From our news article announcing the Amarok Ultimate limited edition, published in January:  “Imagine:  Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 V6 TDI.  You read it hear first… let’s keep asking.  How about it, VW?”

Taking things up a notch, for big low-down torque

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is taking things up a notch in the premium pick-up segment, giving Amarok a bigger heart, from the latest generation of VW V6 TDI engines.

Amarok buyers can look forward to an extra litre and an extra 130Nm of torque, with the 3.0 available in 3 output levels – the one we’re interested in is the top 165kW and 550Nm.  Referring back to the Navara outputs of 170 and 550, see how close these are?  The VW is, fortunately, also tuned for economy, whereas a downside of the Navara V6 is its unusually-high diesel thirst.  The Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 V6 TDI with 8-speed automatic (Amarok is still the only bakkie with 8-speed auto) “will likely reach” a combined diesel consumption of 7.6 l/100km.

The V6 TDI engine meets customer requirements for an engine with high torque at low engine revs.  The big 550Nm is there from a low-down 1500 r/min.

A tailgate badge is finally what the Amarok was longing for:  V6 TDI.  The front grille is a horizontal double-bar with vertical chrome background bars re-design, plus a bold V6 badge nestled neatly on the side between the horizontal bars.

Amarok Aventura launch model

The one you see in these images is the Amarok Aventura launch model, which features 20-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured sports bar, bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lamps.

Amarok V6 TDI for bakkie-loving SA?

If VWSA can make a business case for it, it should arrive here in bakkie-loving SA.  The challenge is, the Volkswagen Amarok 2.0BiTDI double cab Highline 4Motion auto (at R 570 200) already prices against the Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 double cab 4x4 auto (R 547 900) and Ford Ranger 3.2 double cab 4x4 Wildtrak auto (R597 900).  The special-edition Amarok 2.0BiTDI Ultimate costs R 628 700.  Where would the Amarok V6 TDI double cab 4Motion auto come in?

If you can’t wait and want to buy an Amarok now, search on Auto Trader SA.

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