volkswagen amarok – History of the Volkswagen Amarok: From a Robust Concept to a Premium Pickup. 2005: Development of the Volkswagen Amarok pickup truck begins within Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWN). The aim is to compete with established players in the market such as the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger while offering the comfort and features typical of Volkswagen passenger cars.
History of the Volkswagen Amarok: From a Robust Concept to a Premium Pickup
2005: Development of the Volkswagen Amarok pickup truck begins within Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWN). The aim is to compete with established players in the market such as the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger while offering the comfort and features typical of Volkswagen passenger cars.
2008: The first official photos of the Robust Pick-Up prototype surface on the internet. The design bears the signature of Walter de’Silva and hints at the robust but also elegant character of the future Amarok.
2010: On January 7, 2010, the Volkswagen Amarok is officially unveiled in Pacheco, Argentina. It immediately becomes the official support vehicle for the Dakar Rally, thus undergoing its “baptism of fire”. The Amarok is offered in Single Cab and Double Cab body styles, with rear-wheel drive or 4motion, and is powered by a wide range of TDI turbodiesel engines with direct injection.
2012: The Amarok is named “Car of the Year” in South Africa and wins the “International Pickup of the Year” award.
2016: The Amarok receives a facelift, which includes a modernized design and a brand new V6 engine. With this engine, the Amarok becomes the most powerful pickup on the UK market with 258 hp and 580 Nm of torque.
2017: The Amarok Canyon special edition arrives on the market, focusing on outdoor activities and adventure.
2018: From June 2018, the two highest trim levels are also available with a 258 hp engine.
2020: In May 2020, Volkswagen announces that it will stop production of the Amarok in 2022 due to declining demand for pickups in Europe. Production will continue for some markets outside Europe.
2022: In February 2022, Volkswagen unveils the new generation of the Amarok, developed in collaboration with Ford. The new Amarok is to share the platform with the Ranger but retain the typical Volkswagen design and driving characteristics.