The Ford Ranger-based truck was developed in Australia and Europe. It will be manufactured in South Africa, and Argentina.
We are now focusing our attention on the sister model, the next Amarok. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles published sketches of the utilitarian vehicle’s design two weeks after Blue Oval revealed its new midsize pickup. The German company wants to emphasize that its truck is not a Ranger equipped with a VW badge, but rather a clear representation of the “clear Volkswagen DNA” it has.
This appears to be true as the Amarok’s exterior looks very different. However, we are fairly certain that it shares some body panels with the Ford counterpart. The doors likely share the same door frames as the Ford twin. It also appears that the caps for the side mirrors are identical to keep costs down. The hood, however, is different as are the front fenders and headlights.
It’s similar to the Ranger and is being shown in a double-cab style with plastic body cladding around wheel arches to highlight its go-anywhere capability. The front appears to feature an LED light bar, in keeping with other Wolfsburg-based products. It’s quite unique because, aside from two canisters being held by rails and straps, the Amarok also has additional lights that we haven’t yet seen on its Ford sibling.
If the sketch is exaggerated, we get the impression that the VW version has bulging wheel arches more than the Ranger. We don’t have a photo of the rear, but we expect the exact same taillight shape with different graphics. The tailgate will not bear the name “Ranger”, it is obvious. You can only do so much with a truck’s back end. Don’t expect any major changes.
VW’s commercial division has opened the doors to the cabin. The center console is dominated in portrait mode by a touchscreen. This is the first time we’ve seen it. It’s on the Ranger, of course. There are still some controls beneath the infotainment, and they seem to be different from the Ford’s.
Since the position of the gear lever for automatic transmission has changed, the area between the front seats was modified. The lever has also been changed. VW moved the cup holders further back than they were on the Ranger. The Ford has the electronic parking brake and drive mode selector in a different location.
These small changes make the trucks appear quite different despite having similar underpinnings. Expect the same mixture of gasoline and diesel engines as Ford’s new Ranger. It is too early to tell if there will be a gasoline-powered V6 model, possibly called Amarok R, to match the Ranger Raptor.
The Amarok will be upgraded to the next generation in 2022 after 11 years. It will be made in South Africa and Argentina. The vehicle will be available in Europe by the end of next year but it won’t be made in Hannover as the factory is being upgraded for the much-hyped ID. Buzz electric van.