Amarok VW Pickup
The VW or Volkswagen brand is not know for its constant introduction of new designs. Now they are however bringing something interesting to us off roaders. It is a new 4x4 double cab pickup coming from the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and is called Amarok.
The Amarok VW pickup will be launched first in South America at the beginning of 2010 and only later in other markets like Russia and Europe in the summer and Africa and Australia following later.
Amarok is the first pickup by a European auto manufacturer in South America to be unveiled. The South American launch is set for Spring 2010 coinciding with massive a Dakar rally trial.
With the Amarok, Volkswagen is seeking to enter global pickup markets dominated for the most part by Japanese manufacturers. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles already presented an impressive concept truck at last year's IAA Commercial Vehicles, providing a taste of the brand's new fourth model. The Amarok will be produced in Argentina at Volkswagen's "Pacheco" plant near Buenos Aires.
VW have not been known as an off road vehicle manufacturer. Due to its popularity the famous beetle was no doubt often used off road even though it was not its "natural territory". Here in Iceland that was certainly the case.
The beetle with the Troll of Tungnaá river in the sand desert east of Veidivotn and the river Tungnaá further behind. Photo: Finnbogi Eyjólfsson.
Sailing a VW beetle over the river Jokulgilskvisl in the spectacular Landmannalaugar area. The river looks unsuitable for the larger mountain trucks waiting on the river bank. Photo: Páll Sigurðsson.
The name Amarok means "wolf" in the Inuit language. The Inuit live in northern Canada and Greenland and are one of the Eskimo peoples, regard the wolf as the king of the wilderness, an impressive figure due its strength, robustness, endurance and superiority.
The Amarok name also means "he loves stones" in the Romance languages, which are spoken in the major markets in Brazil and Argentina. In these markets, pickups are highly in demand as recreational and commercial vehicles due to their versatility. The Amarok's reliability and suitability for off-road driving could make it a very attractive option.
"This name fits to a tee the characteristics of our pickup, which will set new standards in its class. We took great care selecting this name, which can be used globally. The Amarok is meant to invoke positive associations in all relevant international markets and make a more convincing argument than its established competitors right from the start," says Stephan Schaller, CEO of the brand Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
The Amarok is the first pickup of this kind from a European manufacturer and will face competition in the one-tonne class mostly from Asia. The sixth model from the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand, which follows the Caddy, Transporter (or Multivan) and Crafter as well as the Saveiro and T2, both of which are available exclusively in South America, is a significant component in the Volkswagen Group's growth strategy and opens a new segment for Volkswagen. Schaller comments, "The Amarok lifts our brand into a new, even more international dimension. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is proud to develop, build and sell this vehicle, which is extremely important for the growth of the entire Group and constitutes a logical strategic addition to the global range."
Developed from scratch, the Amarok will be launched as a double-cab pickup with four-wheel drive. According to VW officials the single-cab version will be available at a later date. The pickup features not only state-of-the-art, robust engineering but also efficient engines and current Volkswagen styling. The concept car shown at the IAA gives a first impression. State-of-the-art, powerful yet efficient common rail turbo diesel injection (TDI) of the next generation will be used in the powertrain. The fuel consumption and emissions for the Amarok will achieve the new best values for the pickup segment.
Amarok is durable, robust and can tackle any road, no matter how tricky: the Volkswagen Amarok will have to prove those claims from January 2010 during the worlds toughest rally. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is the Official Supplier to the Dakar Rally and a partner to the organizer, the Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.). The new pickup from Volkswagen will be the Support Vehicle for the rally. The organizer is to use 20 Amarok, with a further 15 to be used as press and shuttle vehicles.
From 1st to 17th of January 2010, the Dakar Rally will also see four teams from Volkswagen Motorsport as well as many other teams travelling 9,000 km through Argentina and Chile. The rally starts and finishes in Buenos Aires.
The Amarok will undergo an endurance test during the Dakar Rally, because it will have to handle all the challenges of the demanding stages: as the organizer's vehicle to reconnoiter the rally stages, as a press vehicle and as a shuttle for the Volkswagen Motorsport team.
Four of the Volkswagen Amarok from the A.S.O. fleet will get additional off-road conversions for the trip, and four Panamericana multivans will also be used.
We are pleased to be able to use the Volkswagen Amarok as our Support Vehicle, because the Dakar Rally demands the highest levels of technical perfection, reliability and endurance from our Race Touareg as much as from the support vehicles. The Amarok is exactly the right vehicle for our team, explains Kris Nissen, Volkswagen Motorsport Director.
The Volkswagen Amarok is Volkswagens answer to the pickup and on the Dakar Rally one of the last great adventures for mankind it will have the chance to show what its made of and to demonstrate its flexibility and durability, adds Stephan Schaller, CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
Moreover, the Volkswagen Amarok is built in Argentina and South America is one of the most important markets for this product, so taking part in the 2010 Dakar Rally was an absolute must for us, stresses Schaller.
Will be interesting to see how this new VW pickup will turn out. It really looks capable and we at 4x4OffRoads will of course be watching...
Thrandur
4x4OffRoads.com
