The Dakar Rally runs from the 1st to the 17th of January 2010, covering a distance of 9,000km through Argentina and Chile starting and finishing from Buenos Aires.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is the Official Supplier to the Dakar Rally and have chosen the Amarok to be the support vehicle. Organisers will use 20 Amarok with another 15 for press and shuttle vehicles.
The Rally will show the capabilities of the Amarok as it makes its way through all the stages. Four Amaroks will be fitted with additional off-road conversions for the trip.
“We are pleased to be able to use the Volkswagen Amarok as our Support Vehicle, because the Dakar Rally demands the highest levels of technical perfection, reliability and endurance – from our Race Touareg as much as from the support vehicles. The Amarok is exactly the right vehicle for our team”, explains Kris Nissen, Volkswagen Motorsport Director.
“The Volkswagen Amarok is Volkswagen’s answer to the pickup and on the Dakar Rally – one of the last great adventures for mankind – it will have the chance to show what it’s made of and to demonstrate its flexibility and durability”, adds Stephan Schaller, CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
“Moreover, the Volkswagen Amarok is built in Argentina and South America is one of the most important markets for this product, so taking part in the 2010 Dakar Rally was an absolute must for us”, stresses Schaller.
This is the first time the Volkswagen Amarok will be seen in Argentina, and will be on sale soon after. South America will be first to get the Amarok, then Europe.
by Adam Marshall
Damn, how do you get to drive a support vehicle.
Sign me up :)
There is already links to the Amarok microsite on the VW Australia website.
Hope we see it in Aus soon, our ute (pickup) market is probably a a major target for VW commercial vehicles. Could be my next work ute!
I think it wil shake up the Ute market alot when it comes here.
hopefully they come to the market with a new level in safety features and extras….. for the amount you pay for a 4×4 or 4×2 ute, the extras and saftey features you get in comparison to a car is pathetic! ABS only standard in the last few years, dont even think about DSC or curtain airbags! I know that the uniqueness of these vehicles may require additional funding and R & D to develop such features…. but hell ABS as an optional extra when i bought mine, along with no power windows, mirrors etc in 2008, even in a poverty pack ute this is a joke!
New Triton now has ASC and Side/Curtain Airbags available as options and standard on some models. Long time coming though – I agree! But times are changing for the better (safety wise).
I hope they are working on a station wagon variant! Wouldn’t mind checking it out once it’s released.
What do you mean by this? Do you mean one with seven seats, or one with a canopy? The first option would cannibilise Touareg sales and the second would definitely be an aftermarket option anyway.
I don’t know if it is just me, but I don’t like it how the roll bar that adorns the tray reaches to the end of the tray. In other utes, it usually stops halfway. But then again, maybe I’m too fussy.
A “station wagon” version would not cannibalise Touareg sales. By the time it would get here, assuming it could be a possibility (remote at best), the Touareg will be the newer model with 7 seats option and 300kg lighter, which means that the low range will be dropped, and it will therefore only be a soft-roader like the Q7.
The images above are the concept vehicle…it is unlikely that the rollbar shown will be on it or even an option, I would think. I imagine the look will be much more “standard” than pictured here.
I aggree with you baddass, I think the rear roll bar tubing should be attached two thirds the way along rather than most of the way. I like the squared and flared wheel arches though.
A decent European 4WD ute like this will definately shake up the marked, considering it’s the first of it’s kind. If it has the same good qualities as the Hilux (reliability, affordability, likeability etc.), whilst providing much improved driving dynamics, comfort, safety and economics then Volkswagen will definately have people interested!
By the way, will it also be available in space cab as well? I think most 4WD utes like this look better in a space cab rather than a dual cab, like the black Hilux in back to the future.
drive at daytime, repair at nite.
the brandnew VW Amok will need a big, big support team. alike the Touaregs.
a painted plastic-bubble.
no rigid , usable steel bumpers, just plastic all over = useless
AMAROK no auto box. WHY?