Volkswagen Australia will launch the all-new Amarok ute with a full suite of Ford-sourced petrol and diesel engines when it goes on sale at the end of quarter one 2023.

    The Amarok engine mix for Australia will include two four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engines, one turbocharged diesel V6, and a unicorn offering for the segment: the four-cylinder turbocharged petrol which it flagged back in July.

    Australia’s line-up will kick off with three of five Amarok variants, before the final two arrive mid-year. Landing first will be the Amarok Style (formerly known as the Highline), PanAmericana (formerly the Canyon) and the Aventura.

    All three variants will be available with a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 diesel engine (shared with the Ford Ranger), which will be standard on both the PanAmericana and Aventura.

    The Amarok Style will come standard with a 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine (also shared with the Ford Ranger) and can be optioned with the V6 diesel.

    The Aventura on the other hand will come with the V6 diesel as standard, but offer a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine as an option. This engine is unique to the Amarok here since it isn’t available with the Ranger in Australia – and is based on the same motor used in the likes of the Ford Focus ST hot hatch and Mustang High Performance pony car

    The V6 diesel, bi-turbo 2.0-litre diesel and 2.3-litre petrol are mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, while the base 2.0-litre single-turbo diesel to be introduced a little later on base grades uses six-speed manual or auto options.

    Moreover, the V6 diesel and four-cylinder petrol are driven through a permanent all-wheel drive system, as opposed to part-time 4×4 in the two four-cylinder diesels.

    Later in the year, the Style, PanAmericana and Aventura will be joined by the Amarok (previously known as the Core) and the Life (previously known as Sportline).

    The base Amarok variant will come with the less powerful 2.0-litre single-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, while the Life will exclusively be offered with a 2.0-litre bi-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel mated to the 10-speed automatic.

    Power and torque outputs

    2.0-litre 4cyl turbo-diesel (Amarok)

    • 125kW of power
    • 405Nm of torque
    • 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic

    2.0-litre 4cyl bi-turbo diesel (Life, Style)

    • 154kW of power 
    • 500Nm of torque
    • 10-speed automatic transmission

    3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel (Style, PanAmericana, Aventura)

    • 184kW of power
    • 600Nm of torque
    • 10-speed automatic transmission

    2.3-litre 4cyl turbo petrol (Aventura)

    • 222kW of power
    • 452Nm of torque
    • 10-speed automatic transmission

    Fuel consumption figures are yet to be confirmed, but we expect the petrol four-cylinder version to be the thirstiest of the bunch.

    Volkswagen says that since 2020, Amarok customers have moved from an almost even 50:50 split of high grade and lower grade variants to an almost 80 per cent lean toward higher grade variants.

    Volkswagen Australia expects that trend to continue in Australia when the next generation of Amarok goes on sale in early 2023.

    The brand is also confident that the team of over 20 based in Australia alongside Ford’s Ranger engineers has crafted a product that feels more a Volkswagen than it does a Ford.

    MORE: 2023 Volkswagen Amarok Australian range detailed
    MORE: 2023 Ford Ranger v Volkswagen Amarok design comparison

    Paul Maric

    Paul Maric is an Australian car expert based in Melbourne, Australia. Paul is a founder of CarExpert.com.au & formerly part of the CarAdvice founding team.

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