Volkswagen has released pre-production sketches of its upcoming new Amarok pickup, providing the first look at the vehicle's whole exterior.
Tough new looks
The second-generation Amarok is due for launch later this year and the latest sketches show something close to production reality. The front-end, for instance, gets familiar VW headlights as well as an LED light-bar similar to that found on the Golf, ID.4 and others. In profile, the wheel arches are big, boxy and pronounced, on some versions being more extensively clad in black plastic for greater protection from knocks and bumps.
Interestingly, a B-pillar between the front and rear doors appears absent, at least in the sketches, giving the impression of a floating roofline. As to whether that detail will make it to production, however, remains to be seen. At the rear, big "Amarok" lettering adorns the rear tailgate.
According to Albert-Johann Kirzinger, the head of design at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles:
"We emphasise the different, expressive front designs of our pick-up with a charismatic Amarok signature that is also found with very large letters on the cargo box at the rear and is sported very proudly by the Amarok. The styling bar as a visual extension of the double cab in the cargo box once again gives the Amarok's body dynamic, aerodynamic and very strong proportions."
The new Amarok's ground clearance is greater than before. This is visible in the latest images where there's considerable space between the wheel arches and the alloy wheels - shod in BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres - providing a glimpse of the long-travel suspension.
What do we know about the new VW Amarok?
This upcoming Amarok is set to be bigger than the outgoing model with the body not just wider, but longer too, growing by ten centimetres to 5.35 metres in overall length. Volkswagen stresses that the load bed will, as before, be spacious enough to accommodate a Euro-pallet and that the increase in length promises more legroom in the rear seats.
The new Amarok has been jointly developed as part of an agreement between VW and Ford, and the latest model shares its platform and some of its running gear with the next-gen Ford Ranger, also due to launch later this year.
It's a two-way street in terms of engines with the Ranger receiving the option of the Amarok's 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel and the Amarok likely receiving Ford's single- and twin-turbo four-cylinder diesels. Depending on the options chosen, power will either be permanently sent to all four wheels via a ten-speed automatic transmission or selectively through a five- or six-speed manual gearbox.
Judging by Ford's plans for the Ranger, it's possible that a 2.3-litre petrol engine may also eventually make it into the Amarok, perhaps as part of a plug-in hybrid system, though, if that happens, it's probably some way off yet.
As well as some body panels and engines, another thing which the Amarok and Ranger will share is the interior architecture, with both models likely receiving 10.1-inch and 12.0-inch portrait-aspect infotainment screens.
When is the new Amarok coming to Ireland?
Even with the new Amarok launching later this year, it's unlikely that the model will hit Irish roads before 2023.