Volkswagen Australia has announced that they are currently developing a more powerful variant of the car. new VW Amarok in collaboration with Walkinshaw Automotive.
The announcement was made during a press conference held in Sydney . However, neither VW Neither the Walkinshaw Group provided specifics regarding the potential engine, modifications to the chassis, or the price point. It has also been confirmed that the vehicle isn't scheduled for release this year, with ongoing tests planned throughout 2025, making it increasingly probable that the car will not be available until after next year. new Ford Ranger The customized Walkinshaw Amarok won't arrive in Australia until sometime around late 2026.
“At today’s press event in Sydney, I’m thrilled to unveil the latest development in the W-Series,” stated Ryan Walkinshaw. “The Walkinshaw Group is collaborating once more with Volkswagen for the second-generation Amarok. This time around, our aim is to surpass what we achieved previously.” The design rendering (shown at the beginning of this article) has been finalized. “Walkinshaw went on to say. ‘Our skilled teams have been collaborating quietly behind the scenes to make it happen, and we will proceed with testing for the remainder of this year.’”
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Another fantastic concept from our Australian-born team," remarked Karsten Seifert, the Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Australia. "This one comes not only from VW but also from our colleagues at Walkinshaw.
"It's a commendable Australian initiative that highlights dedication and investment, as well as involving an Australian firm. When discussing renowned companies like Volkswagen and Walkinshaw, we're referring to entities with the same heritage, comprehension, engineering, and performance," Seifert added.
The arrival of the new VW Amarok could not be more timely as it has faced significant challenges with sales throughout 2024 and extending into 2025. Year-to-date, sales have dropped by 35.8%, from 2,274 units last year to only 1,459 this year. In March alone, there was an even steeper decline of 37.3%, dropping from 842 units previously to merely 528 now. For perspective, the Ford Ranger—which shares a platform with the Amarok—saw a much milder decrease of 8.7% in March, going from 5,135 units sold then to 4,687 currently.
This adventure began in mid-2020 with a collaboration between VW and Walkinshaw," stated Ryan Walkinshaw during the event. "The W580 quickly became popular, selling over 2,600 units throughout its run. It turned into a flagship model for a vehicle that was already impressive—a pickup designed like a high-performance sports coupe, succeeded by an off-roader known as the W580X. In September 2022, we introduced the limited edition 2022 Volkswagen Amarok W580SE, available in just 99 copies priced starting at $86,990 plus additional fees.
The prior version of the VW Amarok was equipped with the Volkswagen Amarok TDI580 Highline V6 turbodiesel engine, and we anticipate that the upcoming Walkinshaw Amarok will follow suit using a similar setup. It features a 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged diesel engine capable of generating 184 kW at 3250 rpm and delivering torque up to 600 Nm between 1750-2250 rpm. Nevertheless, it might also adopt the gasoline variant from the Amarok lineup—the 2.3-liter inline-four turbocharged petrol motor—that delivers 222 kW at 5900 rpm along with peak torque of 452 Nm at 3350 rpm.
You'll encounter a 10-speed automatic transmission paired with both engine choices along with constant four-wheel drive.
What should you anticipate? Everything that you'd typically expect from a Walkinshaw offering. This includes cutting-edge design, performance, and handling. We're eager for everyone to witness and experience this once the moment arrives. For now, we extend our gratitude to Volkswagen for their backing and confidence in the Walkinshaw Group.
I assure each person here that the new W-Series will be an unforgettable one.