VW South Africa has confirmed to TopAuto that the next-generation Amarok will go on sale in the country in the first quarter of 2023.
The bakkie will be fully unveiled for the first time towards the end of 2022, said the manufacturer.
VW has revealed little else about its new bakkie, except for a few headlining specifications to make us look forward to what’s coming next year.
What to expect
The next-gen VW Amarok will be offered with a variety of engines comprising one petrol and up to four diesels, depending on the market.
The capacities range from two to three litres and four to six cylinders, and span both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, said VW.
The new VW is based on the next-gen Ford Ranger, and as such, we expect it will come with the same powertrains.
The new Ford will give buyers the choice between 2.0-litre, single-turbo and bi-turbo diesel motors, as well as a 3.0-litre, V6.
Ford has confirmed its single-turbos generate between 110-125kW and 350-450Nm, its bi-turbo does 155kW and 500Nm, and its V6 does 184kW and 600Nm.
VW has not yet said whether its new Amarok will feature these drivetrains, but judging from previous collaborations between automakers, it’s a reasonable assumption that it will.
Lending further credibility to this assumption is the fact that the current-generation Amarok is also sold with bi-turbo and V6 motors.
What VW has confirmed, though, is that its new bakkie will be capable of supporting a maximum payload of 1,200kg and a maximum towing capacity of 3,500kg – an increase of 190kg and 200kg over the outgoing generation, respectively.
Partly thanks to a body that grew by 100mm and a wheelbase that was extended by 175mm, the upcoming Amarok boasts a new look and larger cabin than the model it is replacing.
The shorter overhangs, sleeker LED lights, and up to 21-inch alloy wheels give it a sporty aesthetic, as opposed to the blockish design of old.
The interior, on the other hand, has not been revealed yet, and we’ve only been given hints as to what luxuries and equipment the new bakkie will have.
Depending on the region, the bakkie will be sold in Standard, Life, Style, PanAmericana, and Aventura trim levels, but VW has not said which of these will be available in South Africa.
Standard fitment across the range then includes a digital cockpit, a tablet-style infotainment system, and all-round LED lights.
Optionally, owners can further install LED Matrix headlights, an upgraded stereo, “leather-look” surfaces, 10-way electrically-adjustable front seats, and more than 30 driver assistance systems – “over 20 of which are completely new to the Amarok,” said VW.
Locally produced
The official South African pricing and specifications for the next-gen VW Amarok will be announced closer to its launch date.
“The new Amarok will launch at the end of 2022 in the first few countries with double cab and four doors, and in some individual markets with a two-door single cab,” said VW.
The bakkie will be built at the Ford Silverton Assembly Plant alongside the new Ford Ranger and Everest.
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