The new VW Amarok is the next big bakkie launch South Africans are eagerly awaiting.
The current “important bakkie” is the 2022 Ford Ranger, which as luck would have it is what the next-gen Amarok will be based on.
In fact, it will sit on the same third-generation T6 platform developed by Ford – and be built at the same Silverton factory in Pretoria.
Ford has assured us that the next VW Amarok will be a “fully differentiated” sibling, however, with its own design, features, and performance specifications.
VW, on the other hand, has revealed very little about its upcoming bakkie – with its commercial division thus far only providing two illustrations depicting a futuristic-looking Amarok.
In the newest picture (below), the VW bakkie has a horizontal crossbar with integrated LED headlights, colourful tow points protruding from an underbody skid plate, and rugged wheels.
Similar to the next-gen Ranger, the Amarok in the images looks like it will have tapered sides, more angular side windows, integrated roof rails, side steps, and a roll bar.
Hopefully the pictured roof-mounted lights will be included in the production model, too.
Before this newest teaser was released, the only image of the next-gen Amarok was in the form of a prototype image that was an early design – shown below.
Comparing the images show stark differences, hinting at which parts could be nearing completion, and which ones might still need a bit of work.
The newer illustration shows normal-looking wing mirrors that look near-final, which have a different design than the earlier versions.
Between these sketches, it is also apparent that the fog light surrounds and roll bars are different – while the grille on the newer image features a less-pronounced upper edge and more darkened elements.
The bonnet, however, kept its decals and bulges across the images, while the sharp shoulder line, rear window curves, tow hooks, and wheels stayed consistent, too.
This points to the possibility that these are the design elements we could see on the next-gen Amarok when it launches.
Ford-VW Alliance
In 2020, Motor1 reported that the new Amarok would not be produced were it not for a Ford-VW strategic alliance.
This alliance will see the Ranger and Amarok share a production platform.
At the time, VW commercial vehicles chairman Thomas Sedran said in a press release: “Ultimately, it is our customers who will benefit [from the joint venture], as without the cooperation we would not have developed a new Amarok.”
Ford will also benefit from the strategic alliance, as a small Ford-branded van that is based on the new VW Caddy is rumoured to be in the works.
Next-gen VW Amarok launch
“The new Amarok will be launched in South Africa next year,” VW South Africa told TopAuto.
“We will confirm exact and more details on this in the new year.”
If the 6-8-month timeframe between the unveiling of the new Ford Ranger and its local launch is anything to go by, we expect the next-gen VW Amarok to be unveiled before the middle of 2022.
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