This pickup, which is based on the Ford Ranger, looks extremely rugged.
The first teaser photo of the next-generation Amarok was released by Volkswagen a little more than a year ago. This one had large wheels and no door handles, more in line with a concept-like design sketch. The truck was also exaggerated in other design details. However, VW Commercial Services has provided a new official photo that brings it closer to reality.
The original teaser showed the pickup with two doors. However, the Amarok preview now shows the pickup in a double-cab configuration. The truck now has rear doors. It also features roof rails, an LED bar and a rollbar in the bed. The front bumper was also modified by VW to make the fog lights visible from the rear, and the X-shaped panel of silver has been replaced with a more modern design.
Orange accents remain, as are the square wheel arches with silver mirrors and the round wheel arches. The side caps now incorporate the turn signals. This is a further indication that the design is closer than last year’s sketch. Although the original teaser’s hood looked too tall to obscure visibility, it has been reduced for the new image. A visible character line that extends from the upper corner to the rear pillar and ends at the beltline is another noticeable difference.
Ford has a second-generation Amarok model that you can thank if you are a fan. VW would have phased out its first-generation truck if it wasn’t for the Ranger platform that was borrowed from the Blue Oval. The new Amarok will closely resemble the Ranger. However, the Germans promise an all-VW design. We can already see this from the front-end styling.
VW Commercial Vehicles is reportedly developing an equivalent to the Ranger Raptor. It could be called Amarok R and will join high-performance versions and SUVs such as the Golf, Tiguan and Arteon. It is said to have 300 horsepower and more importantly, mountain-moving power. It could arrive within a year of the regular model, if the rumor is true.
The second-generation Amarok will launch in 2022, after it enters production at Ford’s Silverton South Africa plant. This is also where the new Ranger will be assembled. Ford announced last month that it would invest over $1 billion to make the facility ready for both trucks. This was in order to create more jobs and increase production capacity. These investments are essential as the Ranger and Amarok will be exported in more than 100 countries around the globe.