New Car: 2011 Volkswagen Amarok

One of the most highly-anticipated new car arrivals of 2010 has broken cover early with Volkswagen Commercial releasing official images and details of the Amarok pick-up. The first ever European pick-up is set to arrive in Australia in the third quarter of 2010 and go head-to-head with the Toyota Hilux.

Production of the Amarok is set to begin in Argentina in December but Australia's will have to wait until after South America and Europe get dibs on the new ute. Right-hand drive versions are set to go on sale in the UK in September, so Australia can expect a similar timeframe.

"We are looking at the second half of next year to get the Amarok in the country," Anke Koeckler, Volkswagen Australia managing director, told the Carsales Network recently. "We are planning our production because we see huge opportunity and right now we are in negotiation and discussion with the guys from Hannover. And it seems pretty good, which is good because it's a pretty important product for us."

Volkswagen, though, understands the importance of the pick-up in the Australian market and it is believed both petrol and automatic versions of the Amarok are under development to better cater for local demands; however officially neither of those two features have been confirmed.
What has been confirmed is that the Amarok will launch in dual cab form with the choice of two diesel engines. The first is a single turbo unit rated at 90kW and 340Nm and a twin-turbo variant that will produce 125kW and 400Nm.

Both engines will be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and there will be a choice of rear-wheel drive 4x2, part-time 4x4 and fulltime 4x4 using a modified version of the 4MOTION system from the Touareg.

Although the company has yet to release fuel consumption figures it claims that thanks to an 80-litre fuel tank the Amarok will have a range of over 900km.

Measuring 5.25m long, the Amarok will have a payload capacity of up to 1100kg and be capable of towing up to 2800kg. The firm has also revealed there is 1222mm load space between the rear wheel-arches to optimise load carrying capability.

The Amarok will come fitted with an electronic differential lock (EDL), off-road ABS (anti-lock braking system), hill decent assist and hill hold assist for improved off-road performance.

Thanks to: Car Point