The ‘truck’, as it’s known across the pond, is a ubiquitous sight Stateside. Big, bustling all-terrain heavy-haulers in the vein of the best-selling Ford F150 are an almost symbolic staple on US roads. However, back in the old continent, the gargantuan AWD pick-up tends to be the preserve of the professional tradesman, more often the work horse than the prancing stallion.
One enduring European favourite in this area is the Volkswagen Amarok. For 2016, Germany’s premier pick-up gets a general revamp, the highlight of which sees the addition of a new array of power options under the bonnet.
The refreshed Amarok ups the power ante thanks to its new three-pronged, 3.0 litre line-up of diesel engines. The V6 roster ranges from the more modest 161 BHP unit, to the gutsiest 221 BHP powertrain. The most powerful Amarok promises 406 lb/ft of torque, that’s a hike of almost 100 lb/ft over the outgoing model.
Whether automatics are your thing or if you’re a fan of the traditional stick shift, the new Amarok caters for all parties with an 8-speed gearbox available in both manual and automatic guises here in European. In a similar vein to the powertrain selection on offer, the pickup also comes with a choice of rear-wheel drive, VW’s 4MOTION set-up with rear-wheel drive plus an engageable front axle, or the traditional permanent all-wheel drive option.
Choice alterations see the 2016 Amarok sport a slightly revised front end with bi-xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights plus LED-illuminated side sills under the doors. At launch, the Amarok features 20-inch alloy wheels plus VW’s rear-view camera parking assist system as standard. Inside the three seater cab, designers have replaced the dashboard from the previous generation Amarok with an all-new layout, whilst the seats themselves are also fresh additions.
Naturally, the chief consideration for anyone looking to pick up a pick-up is always practicality. In this respect, the Amarok’s 2.52 m2 load platform out back provides ample space and solidity for payloads over a tonne. Volkswagen claim that some future Amarok variants will tow up to up to 3.5 tonnes with the usual array of extras such as styling bars, covers, cargo area coatings and hardtops on offer to transform the Amarok into a veritable multi-tasker.
The new Volkswagen Amarok is projected to arrive in UK showrooms in the coming months, with order books opening before the end of 2016.
