Volkswagen just announced its most powerful derivative in the Amarok range with a whopping 190 kW and 580 Nm under the hood. That is a massive 25 kW and 30 Nm more than the previous 3-litre, V6-diesel mill. And under full throttle for ten seconds, the power output will rise to a massive 200 kW.
Needless to say, at the top end of the double cab bakkie business, size, or should we say kilowatts, do matter.
In comparison, Mercedes-Benz's 350d X-class had a 3-litre, V6 boasting 190 kW and 500 Nm. Recently Ford upped the ante, not with its well known, 3.2-litre, five-cylinder variant with its modest 147 kW and 470 Nm but adding a sporty version of its new 2-litre, four pot diesel engine. This mean machine produces a very impressive 157 kW and V6-esque torque of 500 Nm.
But back to the newest athlete in the Amarok range. Matching Merc on kilowatts but with more torque for the Volksie-bakkie, the Amarok 4MOTION uses VW’s standard eight speed automatic gearbox.
Volkswagen claims a zero tot 100 km/h time in a traffic light to traffic light beating of just 7.6 seconds enough to frighten hot hatches. And don’t forget a claimed fuel consumption figure of 9.5 l/100 km’s, also impressive for a big heavy, 4x4 vehicle with ‘n V6 engine, even if it is a diesel mill.
The latest flagship Amarok-bakkie will be available in the following model lines - Highline and the top-of-the-range Extreme.
The Highline hosts standard features such as the leather seats, winter package (seat heating), increased GVM from 2.8 t to 3.0 t (including heavy duty leaf springs), Bi-Xenon headlights, front and rear Park Distance Control (PDC) with rear-view camera, Climatronic air-conditioning and new 18-inch alloy wheels. Optional features on the Highline are the Discover Pro Media system which includes satellite navigation, rubber floor covering and 19-inch alloy wheels.
In addition to the standard features on the Highline, which are also available on the Extreme, the top-of-the-range model is further customised with the addition of ‘Special Edition’ Nappa leather seats, Discover Pro Media system and 20-inch alloy wheels. The optional features on the Extreme are the Increased GVM from 2.8 t to 3.0 t (including heavy duty leaf springs), rubber floor covering, 19-inch alloy wheels and a sports bar painted in body colour.
In terms of price the two versions cost R908 300 for the Highline version and R974 600 for the range-topping Extreme.
The Automotive Business Council (naamsa) has expressed concern over the recent announcement by US President Donald Trump to introduce additional tariffs on all imported products under what has been termed ‘Liberation Day’ trade measures.
Despite potential headwinds, South Africa’s automotive industry remains committed to long-term growth and resilience.
South African consumers demonstrated a strong appetite for new passenger vehicles in March, according to figures released by the Automotive Business Council (naamsa).
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