Volkswagen Amarok TSI300 Petrol & TDI340 Diesel launched

By Alborz Fallah | January 27th, 2012

The launch of the Volkswagen Amarok early in 2011 changed the landscape of the 4×4 and 4×2 pickup segments in Australia. Volkswagen became the first European manufacturer to attempt a shakeup of the largely Japanese dominated sector for a slice of the 150,000+ unit/year categories.

Nonetheless, despite a great deal of hype and pre-launch promotions, Volkswagen sold just 2,649 Amaroks in 2011 (301 4x2s and 2,348 4x4s). Compared to 36,124 Toyota HiLux models and 21,675 Nissan Navaras, the Amarok wasn’t as successful as some had predicted.

This year the competition is hotter than before, with new challengers such as the highly acclaimed new Ford Ranger and its sibling, the Mazda BT-50, taking away more sales than ever before.

It’s fair to point out that the limited sales of the Amarok were mainly due to a lack of an automatic transmission option and limited drivetrain choice. The Volkswagen Amarok has only been available in a manual TDI400 diesel, until now.

2012 sees Volkswagen launch two new entry models to sit below the TDI400: Amarok TDI340 4×2 diesel and Amarok TSI340 4×2 petrol. The new diesel variant uses a slightly less powerful version of the TDI400′s 2.0-litre diesel which now develops 103 kW and 340 Nm of torque. Petrol lovers will feel at home with the 2.0-litre turbo powering the TSI300 (118kW and 300Nm).

The 4×2 TDI340 also takes the mantle of the most economical model in the lineup, sipping just 7.4L/100km on the combined city/highway cycle. The TSI300 does the same run using 9.6L/100km. Both variants can be had with either comfort or heavy duty suspension and are available with a Cab Chassis setup. The model’s biggest disadvantage – lack of an automatic transmission – will still be an issue until Volkswagen launches the eight-speed automatic Amarok in the second half of the year.

2012 Amarok Highline and Ultimate variants will also gain a multifunction steering wheel (one of our complaints when we reviewed the Amarok) whilst the Ultimate enjoys newly added heated seats. All variants will also gain daytime running lights as standard equipement.

Volkswagen Amarok TDI340 starts from $29,990 and Amarok TSI300 from $30,590.

Marcuspetraska

i think, until it gets a bigger motor. its not going to compete effectively against the hilux/ranger/bt50 – no matter how many gears or features it has.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_YQLKLFNYP3UFBFAGOV2LNDSREA Robert Ryan

Agree totally. The petrol engine sounds pretty anemic. Lack of variety as far as body styles go, no automatic transmission and the spectre of the not so superb VW reliability have hit sales hard. As I predicted in a post on the Amarok a year ago now, it was going to have a hard time selling in Australia, the Ranger to a lesser extent the BT50 could eat away even those meagre sales even more. The New Hilux I belive in 18 Months time, could make it a “game over” situation for the current Amarok.

Henry Toussaint

I’d like to see the Passat CC’s 3.6L V6 in it!
AS

I’m surprised they haven’t put the, is it a 3L TDI V6?, from the toe-rag in there…

Kd

the 150TDI in the base Touareg wouldn’t be any good because even though it creates 30kw more, it produces the same 400Nm. Not much point when the 3.0 engine would weigh a lot more than the 2.0.
Sure the 180kw/550Nm version would be great, but does anyone really need that sort of engine in that sort of vehicle?

Eric Knutsen

550NM is now the STD power in Half the D40 Navara range.
BT50/Ranger is 470NM

So yes.

There is a belief the small motor with big power mean a short life.

And from what I have read here VW are not are reliable as at Mazda’s and Toyota’s

Jayden

So will the petrol run on normal unleaded? 95 is often hard to come by in rural areas.
Gtrxu1

Fair call to say Volkswagen have presented the Amorok very well.The best looking car in the VW fleet.Also outstanding off road,but sorry Vw.BT50 and Ranger is the new revolution.

Igomi Watabi

some of the specialist four wheel drive magazines disagree with you.

Rick

4wd magazines these days are just cash for comment

Anonymous

The photos show a utility body, not a cab chassis?
Sumpguard

The issue isn’t the engine. It’s the price. I saw one sitting out the front of our local dealer and I couldn’t believe it had a drive away price over $63,000.

As these are sold at a premium compared to their rivals it makes that black plastic front bumper even more ridiculous. But when I look to the right of screen and see an ad for a caddy and transporter it seems this is the norm for VW. Why? Surely the cost of painting the bumper is miniscule compared to the improvement it makes to the vehicle?

Anonymous

Speaking of the Transporter, there is also a Transporter ute and a Crafter (formerly LT) ute. So why was the Amarok even needed?
Tarquin, Hair Artiste

Your observation is correct… The product is good, but priced too high to shake up the market. Same deal with Skoda… Just got a quote on an Octavia wagon… Cost more than a Passat!

Loft

The chinese foton coming out this year will sell more than the Vw as it will be close to the same size larger motor and nearly half the price
Anonymous

VW needs to price with the hilux, they arent a premium brand

Karl

The Hilux is over priced too.
Al

yet they market themselves as one, and the public think they’re premium – pretty much allows them to do whatever they want.

Guest

Yes, it’ll be interesting to see what the Fotons are like – the Cummins diesel and ZF gearboxes (Dayna diffs?) should be OK. Will the rest be any better than the Great Walls?
Pokerface

I thought the Foton was no longer coming?? The distributor pulled the plug.
Best Carquote

Helpful post… Thanks for sharing.
http://listers.co.uk/Volkswagen/Coventry Volkswagon Servicing Coventry

Just sharing a trivia: “Amarok” means “Wolf” in the Inuit language, and Interbrand also claims it is associated with “he loves stones” in Romanic languages.
It also resembles “tomorrow” in Irish.
Nath746

I would buy one if I could get the V12 TDI engine from the Audi Q7…
Zoom

Looks like they raided the Golf’s parts bin to build the gen 1 Amarok. If anything, I will wait for at least the gen 2 or 3.
Greg Mcnichol

needs the 3L v6 if it is going to succeed, 2L what a joke for a work ute, VW still have reliability issues in their cars with normal size engines let alone a work ute with a tiny 2 L engine, my parents and brother have passats and my sisters have a polo and a golf all less than 3 yrs old, you name it turbos, injectors, egr valves, switches,wiring harnesses,new seat belt buckles, new computers, sensors, climate control problems, fan stopped working, the list goes on. VWs are still the pieces of crap they were in the 70s.I would be surprised if they out sold the new ranger.
Info

I have seen several new Mazda BT utes in the flesh and they look a heap better than any photos on the internet. A little bit different. On the other hand apart from the lights and front grill the VW looks a bit daggy.
TO86

With next to no stock for 8 months in 2011 the HILUX stilll sold 36,000+ units what will it do in 2012 with no stock problems? I live in Rural Queensland and no one out here would touch a VW product with a 10 ft barge pole no wonder the are not selling.
VW = UNRELIABLE
VW = EXPENSIVE to service
Tim

Its so funny how VW markets itself like a premium brand, even more funnier is the people who drive Golf’s and Passats who act like they are cars that are at a Mercedes and BMW level

Anonymous

No, no, no. You’re the one who thinks that, and others like you. VW owners know full well that they drive a popularly priced and marketed car and one that is, for the most part, a very good one. It’s no more complicated than that. Remember, there’s always Audi for those who want to splash a bit of money around. And for those who want to, good on ‘em,I say.

Igomi Watabi

they also enjoy some command of the English language.

Richard

People are bagging the price of the Amarok. How much are the desirable 3.2L Diesel BT50 and Ranger models? They aren’t cheap! The majority of the workhorse BT50s and Rangers will uses a 2.2L diesel motor. Hardly huge!
Busang

VW Amarok has been a success globally if you consider that it is VW’s first attempt. Others have been at it for much longer. I’ve realized that most people don’t know what they are talking about, they seem to lack perspective.