After a very long teaser campaign, the 2023 Volkswagen Amarok has finally been revealed. Due in Australia in early 2023, the new Amarok is larger, more advanced and more luxurious than the car it replaces. Now twinned with the new generation Ford Ranger, the new Amarok will offer a range of Ford drivetrains – including, unlike the Ranger, a 222kW 2.3-litre turbo petrol engine.
Now sitting on the same ‘T6’ platform as its Ranger twin, the 2023 Volkswagen Amarok is larger than before. At 5,530mm long, it’s 96mm longer, while its 1,888mm height is 10mm taller. The wheelbase has grown to 3,270mm long, which is 173mm longer than the previous model – this should make the rear seat roomier than before.
According to Volkswagen, because of its shorter overhangs, the new Amarok is superior off compared with the last Amarok – its maximum wading depth is 800mm, for example, which is 300mm more than the current car. Two all-wheel drive systems will be available: a part-time system with two- or four-wheel drive modes or a full-time system offering low range gearing, for the first time.
Under the bonnet of the 2023 Volkswagen Amarok is a range of four- and six-cylinder engines from Ford. For Australia, a 125kW/405Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine will be available as the entry level engine, while a bi-turbo version making 154kW/500Nm will also be available. Above that sits a 184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel, and unlike the Ranger, the Amarok will be offered with petrol power in Australia with a 222kW/452Nm 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol.
The higher-powered engines will be available with a 10-speed automatic transmission – the single turbo diesel will offer either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual.
“For the new generation we have significantly modified the Amarok’s design, It is now more expressive,” says Albert Kirzinger, head of design at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in Hanover, Germany.
The exterior of the 2023 Volkswagen Amarok is sharper than the previous-generation Amarok, with more angular headlights and a more muscular body as well. The new C-shaped tailights are more distinctive than before, while wheels up to 21-inches are available for the first time. The roof rack can now hold up to 350kg, which is 150kg more than before, while the tray can now hold up to 1.16 tonnes. It can be optioned with a power-operated roller shutter as well.
Inside the 2023 Volkswagen Amarok has seen the biggest change with a new dashboard – which shares a lot with the Ranger – with a massive portrait touchscreen, new materials and a lot more technology than before. Depending on model, a touchscreen up to 12.0-inches will be available, while a digital instrument cluster up to 12.0-inches will also be available. The touchscreen runs Ford’s Sync 4 software, but with Volkswagen-specific graphics.
The 2023 Volkswagen Amarok will feature a lot more available equipment than the current car, including 10-way electrically adjustable front seats, keyless entry and start, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, an electric hand brake, a wireless phone charger, leather upholstery, a faux leather dashboard, rear air vents and even a household power socket inside.
One key issue with the previous Amarok has been fixed and the 2023 model will offer far more safety equipment, including eight airbags, auto emergency braking (AEB), Matrix headlights with adaptive high beam functionality, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, lane keep assist with active lane centring, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a 360-degree parking camera, front and rear parking sensors, semi-automatic parking and speed sign recognition.
The 2023 Volkswagen Amarok is due in Australian showrooms in early 2023. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.
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