Amarok V6 production begins

By Colin Windell

As much as there was pre-production hype surrounding the arrival of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class bakkie, there has been just as much with rumuor and speculation about the 200 kW V6 engine for the Volkswagen Amarok.

The speculation ends now. The production of the vehicle has begun at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ main plant in Hannover, Germany.

Highlights of the V6 TDI engine include up to 580 Nm of torque with a 10-kW overboost, both unique in pick-ups of this size. The new engine specification is available for the Amarok Highline and Aventura versions.

The Amarok Aventura with 190 kW also features new visual elements such as a black roof liner, new 20-inch wheels and a special metallic Peacock Green paintwork, available for the first time on the Amarok.

One of the first vehicles now coming off the line in Hannover with the new top engine specification is an Amarok Aventura with double cab and 3,0‑litre V6 TDI. The six-cylinder power unit with 190 kW plus additional overboost has 4MOTION four-wheel drive and 8-speed automatic transmission as standard.

The new Amarok engine's full torque is already available at between 1 400 r/min and 3 000 r/min and the full power output from 3 250 r/min to 4 000 r/min.

Permanent 4MOTION all-wheel drive and an 8-speed automatic gearbox come as standard on the Amarok with the new top engine – both on the Highline and the Aventura. The Amarok with the new, larger V6 engine under the hood also has a number of additional visual modifications: roof liner, pillar trim and other roof elements in the Amarok Aventura are, for example, in titanium black.

Functions such as bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights continue to be part of the standard specification of the new 190 kW V6 Amarok Highline and Aventura. The Light & Sight pack (Leaving and Coming Home function and intermittent wiper function with rain sensor), front fog lights with cornering lights and electric fold-in exterior mirrors are also standard features on the Aventura and available as options on the Highline.

We await timing and specifications for the South African versions.