V6 will retain hero status, new biturbo could do all the heavy lifting

THOUGH V6 was dominant last time round and again has the spotlight in the new incoming format, sentiment is that the pair of four-cylinder additions will considerably enhance the 2023 Volkswagen Amarok’s sales potential.

“We are really confident about the new biturbo four. It gives us more flexibility and takes Amarok right into a sector of the market that’s really important,” said Kevin Richards, speaking to the potentials for the latest line, which arrives in April but won’t properly avail in public hands until May.

“The V6s are great and will continue to be strong but the two litre takes us into where the majority of sales are being made in the ute sector. We think it will do well for us. It gives us another string to the bow.”

Ironically, previous Amarok launched in four-cylinder and ultimately suffered for it; the type’s presence lifting considerably when it adopted a much gruntier six-cylinder in 2018.

Pricing for the new line went public this morning, a day after dealers were called to Auckland for an in-depth share about the sales strategy - but not to see the model in the metal, as no examples have arrived yet.

That might surprise, given the distributor also issued two images, seen today, clearly showing an Amarok on NZ plates. Asked how that was achieved, a representative explained: “The plates are locally edited. This is a global image.”

The Ford Ranger-derived family will contain to double cabs, all with Blue Oval-made diesels in identical tune to Ranger’s.

The 155kW/ 505Nm biturbo four-cylinder sites in an entry rear-drive Life, at $65,000, and a four-wheel-drive Style, for $75,000.

The 3.0-litre single turbo V6 making 184kW and 600Nm of torque and replacing a VW-made 200kW/580Nm same capacity six that ruled the roost for the past four years sites in the new-to-VW Panamericana at $88,000 and the Aventura flagship $2000 above that.

The Amarok will be built in South Africa in a Ford factory, alongside Ford Rangers for Europe and Africa. The Ford Ranger for New Zealand comes from Thailand.

Previously Amarok came from Argentina and, for a brief period, V6s came from Germany. Richards says the new sourcing offers a solid and reliable shipping arrangement. Essentially, vehicles for this part of the world come straight out of the Gauteng plant are onto a ship that calls purely to Australia, then New Zealand.

“Our shipping times actually improve slightly and we think that the supply chain will be stronger.”

Prices do not not include on-road costs and the new models have to tote Clean Car penalties the old model largely escaped.

However, one score is that Aventura has maintained the same price as its predecessor. Richards cites that as being a major success for his sales team, a result of some hard negotiation. In many markets, the model had gone up in price. 

All Amaroks are dearer than the Ford Ranger equivalent models, but appear to be better equipped, with the largest screens on most, and LED headlights across the range and a tow bar, side steps and styling bar standard to the V6s.