The Ranger Raptor should be on its guard.
A off-road-ready Volkswagen Amarok pickup truck may be in the works. Motoring.com’s Nick Reid, Volkswagen Australia’s commercial vehicle marketing manager and product manager, suggested that there is plenty of space for a Ford Ranger Raptor competitor. It makes perfect sense that VW enters this market segment, as there is a growing demand for off-road-ready trucks all over the world.
The VW Amarok truck is a staple on Australian roads where mid-sized trucks such as this dominate. The Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux are its main rivals. The VW Amarok is a reliable product choice when selling a basic work truck or family-friendly hauler.
You’ll quickly see the benefits of off-road performance. Ford offers the world-famous Ranger Raptor to dirt-addicts. This vehicle combines a heavy-duty suspension, exciting styling and unbeatable branding. Nissan offers their customers the less-known Navara Warrior offroad truck, and there are rumors about an off-road-focused Toyota Hilux. If VW doesn’t get serious about making their Amarok a true off-roader, this market could disappear quickly. Even if the Amarok’s trim level is lower, a halo trim could help increase its popularity as a rugged truck.
VW is currently working on the W580, a performance version the Amarok. VW will examine the requirements for building an Amarok capable of off-roading after the new model launches. Let’s hope that the rumors are true, and we see an Amarok more focused on off-roading than the Ford Ranger Raptor.