Volkswagen Amarok, successful support vehicle

By Matt Brogan | February 04th, 2010

This years Dakar Rally saw 35 new Volkswagen Amarok pick-up successfully complete the role as support vehicles to the winning Volkswagen motorsport team as well as the official organisers. They covered extreme terranes, temperatures and altitudes without a problem.

Volkswagen completed the Rally with a one two three finish, defending their wining title in one of the world’s toughest races. Following the race Touaregs, the back-up teams in the Amarok pick-up completed all 14 legs of the race and finished up in Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires. With such tough conditions only half the competitors completed the race by making it to the finish line.

‘The event allowed the Amarok to give a clear demonstration of its abilities and robustness,’ said Dr Wolfgang Schreiber, member of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Board of Management in charge of development. ‘It’s simple,’ he continued, ‘the Amarok is the Volkswagen of Pick-ups.’

Mastering the demanding 9,012 km trip to Buenos Aires was no problem for the Amarok. It did not miss a beat in the 50°C heat of Argentina’s Fiambala or dealing with the 4,700 metre high Andes in Chile, and the taxing terrain of the Atacama which is the driest desert on Earth was no problem either.

Azza212

What a beast, the Dakar is hardcore. But i doubt they followed the actual stage route that the competitors took?

Shak

Thats what i was thinking. The Dakar cars have to be custom made for the types of terrain they will face in the rally. I doubt a production ute could do the same as a heavily modified 4WD. If it were that easy they would have entered three Amorak’s.

Tomas79

Nah, the toyotas that came 1st, 2nd,3rd in the t2 production class of this year’s DAKAR race weren’t purpose built vehicles!!

And yes, the support vehicles do follow stage routes, as they are following their competitors!!

MK

The LC200′s had suspension modifications.

Tomas79

Yeah, but it wasnt a purpose built buggy like the cars in t1 class!!

Tony

If you read the article in this months 4×4 Australia you will see the Amaroks are not exactly production utes, they were heavily modded in the suspension and inside the car and underneath for the Dakar and were also wearing oversize tyres.
http://skasev.com skasev

they follow the route as they clean up the mess left behind, spent tyres, busted bodywork etc.

Carl

See? Toyota!! it….IS….possible to make a tough, comfortable, good looking, well built twin cab Ute at a reasonable price.

Tomas79

They all ready do, the hilux and the LC79!!

As for “reasonable price”, how much will the amarok cost, champ?

Shak

I dunno about comfortable and good looking

Tomas79

Your a holden fanboy, off course you wouldn’t know anything about that!!

Andrew M

ha ha ha
Tomas,
and you are a Toyota fanboy.

Im not a holden fanboy so I challenge you to find a Toyota vehicle that is more comfortable than an equivalent Holden. Falling asleep in a toyota isnt due to the fact that it is comfortable

And just to add to your impossible task, find one that is also better looking.

Oh and the Amarok is declared to be aimed to undercut toyota. So I would say it will be less that the Hilux “Champ”
Tomas79

Andrew M AKA Ford Fairy,
The entire Toyota line is better looking and more comfortable then the Holden & Ford range, thats why they sell!! Thats why Toyota manufactures Australia’s most succesfull car!!

Andrew M, you wanna bet that the amarok won’t be cheaper then an equivalent toyota?!

Also Which car can i buy from Ford or Holden that could even touch the LC200? LC150 Prado, LC76. LC70. LC79??

Able

Pffft, the Hilux is the most expensive ute on the market already, what the hell difference is it gonna make if the Amarok is priced near it? The Amarok is much nicer to look at, and the interior seems to be of a high quality. Give me an Amarok anyday, the Hilux is what boring and unadventurous have come to define.

Howie-R31

I’ll definately take the bet that the amarok will be cheaper than the hilux. Say $50? Reply if you want my mobile number so we can arrange for you to pay me

Neo Utopia

I think the Hilux looks fine, especially in the Top Gear north pole trip! This Amarok will be just that bit more refined to give a more fuel efficient and comfortable journey.

biker

The Top Gear Hilux was a heavily customised job done by the Russians. Even a Russian can make it look better than Toyota themselves!

Tony

They havnt given a price for the Amarok yet and VW has been noticably evasive as to where this ute will fit in to the market price wise. As to whether the 2ltr diesel is up to the task here in OZ still remains to be seen.If it has any chance of knocking Hilux out of top spot it will have to be a few grand cheaper. Looks is a subjective thing any way as some people even like Stavics.

Reckless1

Yep, the 2.0 litre can handle the Dakar route, but it might not be up to the task in Australia.

Australia doesn’t get hotter than 50, or drier, or higher than 4700 metres.

I’m betting the 2.0 litre engine can handle Australian conditions just fine.

MATT

The 2.0L will be fairly highly strung for a 2 tonne vehicle pulling 2 tonne with 500kgs in the back, i prefer the 3.0l hilux to the more powerful and torquey 2.5L navara for that reason, it feels like you are strapping it the whole time

Reckless1

And you’ve driven the Amarok, so you’d know? You haven’t, so you don’t. and it won’t feel like you are “strapping” it. Perfect performance, laden to the hilt at 4700metres should give you a clue.

It’s all about the torque delivery, not about how big your donk is.
noj

Obviously you have never driven anything from VW, otherwise you wouldn`t be worried about the size of the motor.

Tomas79

It does get hotter then 50, i been in pilbara in 52c…
Been too in the real Dakar, Senegal, and parts Australia are significantly hotter!!

scatman

Thanks for sharing your pointless travel stories. No-one here has driven it and I for one dont like the thought of a 2.0 in a 4WD when others in the class have 2.5-3.0, will not be up to task, and dont give me that superior VW Bull

Carl

What a strange name… sounds better backwards: Korama

Reckless1

No it doesn’t.

Ian- Richmond VIC

Is it possible to find out how the Amoroks were prepared for the Rally – how were they modified? Nice looking vehicle. I think the comment that a price point below the Toyota is correct. Entice us with a price and prove to us that it is a worthwhile competitor with the Hilux – if you want the sales.
noj

That doesn`t sound better.
http://www.goaonwheels.com Goa on Wheels

VW Amarok.. is it Rocking???
Matt

The amarok will be a very good vehicle. The Toyota is also a very good vehicle, however they have come back to the pack more recently. I guess the throttle wont stick on in the VW & people won’t be hiding their babies eyes from the Amarok, unlike the hideous front on the latest incarnation Hilux. The twin turbo 2.0 Litre will be excellent & should deliver fuel economy stats to make owners smile smugly at their Hilux counterparts. It’s bigger, more load area, 1000km to a tank, 1000kg load, more efficient & much better looking. I would expect a far superior interior as well. Sounds like an easy choice to me. Just don’t mention the war.
scott

Matt, agreed. If the Amarok can handle the 50 degree heat and altitude in South America it will be fine here. If you look across the range Toyota generally only releases enough technology to remain in the field, not a clear leader. I agree that there is no match on the market for the LC200, 79 etc. No affordable one anyway. Not that a LC200 is affordable.

The engine size debate is hardly an issue. VW can get away with 2.0l because they have inserted the technology. If toyota had twin turbo 3.0l donks then they would have noticably better performance too. We are all however kidding ourselves if we think these engines are comparable to a descent turbo petrol engine. But I believe that is another debate all together.
ohrealy

Will there be a chance this is priced at the same as the toyota hilux?

I think if VW can match toyota for price, they will have a winner on their hands
Adam

I think it’s superb looking. And certainly on paper, its got what it would take to challenge the HiLux.

The 5 star safety rating has me sold though.
http://Stig paulb

Amarok is not the first ute on the OZ market with a 5 star safety rating.Its the 3rd Commodore+Falcon UTE are also 5 star rated