Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland has launched the new Amarok pick-up into the Irish market, and the prices for the popular one-tonne load vehicle start from €47,355.
Base Amarok gets 168hp diesel engine
That base price gets you an entry-level Amarok with the 2.0TDI four-cylinder diesel engine developing 168hp. Standard equipment is generous, including folding power mirrors, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, VW Connect with eCall Emergency System and online voice control, LED headlights, a 10.1-inch infotainment system, eight-inch multifunction instrument display, semi-automatic air conditioning, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, rear-view camera and parking sensors.
For €50,345, you can upgrade to a Life version, which comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers, an eight-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, rear privacy glass, leather-wrapped steering wheel, an electronic parking brake, front parking sensors and rain & light sensing headlights and wipers.
Next up is the €64,735 Style model, which includes 18-inch wheels, a chrome rear bumper, LED-Matrix headlights, heated ‘ArtVelour’ seats, a 12-inch portrait-style touchscreen and 12.3-inch instrument screen, over-the-air software updates, ten-way electrically-adjustable seats, two-zone ‘Climatronic’ air conditioning, adaptive high beam, and lane-keeping steering.
Luxurious PanAmerica and Aventura models
If you want something more luxurious, the €68,620 PanAmerica comes with unique front styling with a dramatic X-shaped trim, LED rear lights, black styling bars and step bars, leather seat trims, a dedicated navigation system, a 640-watt Harmon Kardon sound system, ambient lighting, electrically-adjustable passenger seats, black headliner and a 360-degree camera.
Finally, there’s the range-topping €70,890 Aventura version of the Amarok comes with 20in alloys, body-coloured sports bars and chrome step bars. Other engine options include a 202hp four-cylinder diesel engine and the top-spec 3.0-litre V6 TDI diesel, which comes with a ten-speed automatic gearbox — that gearbox being a legacy of VW’s cooperation with Ford in developing the Amarok; mechanically speaking, it’s the twin of the Ford Ranger.
All models come with a four-door double-cab layout, which means you get a 1,651mm long by 1,584 mm wide cargo bed that accepts a standard Euro pallet loaded sideways or lengthways. There are lashing points at the edge of the bed for securing loads, and the maximum height of the tail lift has also increased, dependent on specification, by as much as 21 mm to 529 mm. If you need to load anything onto the roof, it can manage a 350kg load when parked; Volkswagen suggests that those buying an Amarok for lifestyle rather than working reasons might use that capacity to fit a rooftop tent for camping.
Volkswagen Amarok gets more wading depth
Meanwhile, the maximum load capacity of the Amarok is 1.19 tonnes, while the maximum towing weight is 3.5 tonnes. The permissible total weight of the vehicle and trailer has increased from 6.0 tonnes to 6.5 tonnes.
The new Amarok will be a serious off-roader too. Although it’s 5.3 metres long, VW has reduced the front and rear overhangs, allowing the Amarok to tackle ramp angles of 30 degrees at the front and 26 degrees at the rear. Meanwhile, the wading depth has risen from 500mm to 800mm.
VW is boasting that the Amarok is one of the most luxurious and high-tech pick-ups around, with the option of up to 25 electronic driver assistance systems and ‘premium’ interior trim that “resemble those from the luxurious Volkswagen Touareg.”
Commenting on the all-new Amarok, Kim Kilduff, Head of Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland, said: “The first generation Amarok brought pick-ups to the mainstream and this second generation model is an upgrade in every way. It’s a charismatic vehicle with plenty of presence, on and off the road. The premium finish and refined driving experience have elevated it to another level while even the most challenging off-road experience cannot phase it. We knew we were getting a substantial upgrade but the last few days have proved the Amarok is setting a new benchmark for the pick-up sector here in Ireland.”