Cape Town recently played host to the international launch of the new Volkswagen Amarok. While South Africans will have to wait a little longer before being able to get their hands on one, we thought we would whet your tastebuds with an overview of some of its key features.
Size: At 5350mm, the new Amarok is 96mm longer than its predecessor. Its wheelbase of 3 270mm is also 173mm longer, ensuring more interior space.
Engine: Dependent on the market, the engines being used include four turbodiesel engines (TDI) with four or six cylinders and a turbocharged petrol engine (TSI) with four cylinders. In South Africa the two more powerful TDI engines will have as much as 155kW and 184kW of peak power on tap.
Transmission: Buyers will have a choice of 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, 6-speed auto and 10-speed auto. Again, this depends on the market and model.
Two all-wheel drive systems: The new Amarok will feature all-wheel drive (4MOTION) as standard. Depending on the engine version, there are two different 4MOTION systems, the first with selectable all-wheel drive with three drive modes, and the other with four drive modes. The fourth mode offers variable power distribution between the front and rear axles via a multi-plate clutch.
Assistance systems: Depending on specification, up to 25 assistance systems will be offered. Over 20 of these – for instance automatic cruise control, a parking assistant, 360-degree all-round view, lane change assistant, and road sign recognition – are new to Amarok.
Towing capacity: For markets outside of Europe the maximum towing capacity is 3.5 tonnes. Compared to its predecessor, the permissible total weight of vehicle and trailer has increased from 6.0 to 6.5 tonnes. The maximum payload of the double-cab is now 1.19 tonnes.
Accessories: The static roof load capacity has gone up to 350kg, sufficient for a rooftop tent. Features such as alloy wheels, all-terrain tyres and trailer mounts will be available, as will a bike holder, a multi-functional carrier system, different roll covers and styling bars, and a hardtop for the cargo bed.
