The release and surprising popularity of the Amarok has prompted Volkswagen to consider other possible offshoots based on the pick-up’s ladder frame chassis. Many automakers use it as a basis for a seven-seater wagon-like SUV - a path that, as revealed, Volkswagen is now keen to take.
The news comes from Carlos Santos, director of commercial vehicles for Volkswagen Group Australia, who alluded to the possibility of treading a familiar ute development path for the Amarok while speaking to journalists in Melbourne recently.
“There is some very serious development happening at the moment for an SUV based on Amarok…’ he said, also revealing that the idea for the vehicle had been on the cards since the ute was first launched.
Should this new model come into production, it will face competition from the Ford Everest, Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Isuzu MU-X, and Holden TrailBlazer - all of which are similarly redeveloped versions of their respective manufacturer’s pick-up offerings.
The catalyst behind the thawing of this idea which was previously iced at the beginning of the Amarok’s life is thee addition of the Volkswagen 3.0-litre V6 TDI turbodiesel engine into the fray. In the new Amarok (out locally in November), the unit produces 165kW and 550Nm, but importantly had is approved for sale in key markets such as the United States due to it already being slotted in the - in different tune - Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7.
However, we suspect that while development will continue and the use of the 3.0-litre engine to continue on, a production version of an Amarok-based SUV will likely not emerge until the all-new second generation ute breaks cover (likely in 2019) so that Volkswagen can begin to offer both models in earnest instead of one being technically behind the times during most of its lifecycle.
For more on Volkswagen vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
