Volkswagen Australia has announced today that they are 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 for this purpose. 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 extending throughout 2025, making it increasingly probable that the car new Ford Ranger The Walkinshaw Amarok-based model 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 production of the new second-generation Amarok. This time around, our ambition is to surpass what was 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 discreetly to make it happen, and we will progress to testing for the remainder of this year.’”
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Another fantastic concept coming out of our Australian team," remarked Karsten Seifert, the Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Australia. "This isn’t solely from VW; it’s also a result of the collaboration with the team at Walkinshaw.
"It’s a prestigious Australian initiative highlighting dedication and investment, as well as involving an Australian firm. When discussing esteemed enterprises like Volkswagen and Walkinshaw, we refer to the same core values, shared comprehension, engineering prowess, and performance," Seifert went on to explain.
The arrival of the new VW Amarok could not be more timely as it has faced significant challenges with sales throughout 2024 and continuing 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 vehicles sold previously to merely 528 recently. For perspective, the Ford Ranger—which shares similar underpinnings—saw a much less severe drop in sales during March at just 8.7%, going from 5,135 units then to 4,687 now.
This expedition began in mid-2020 with the formation of a collaboration between VW and Walkinshaw," stated Ryan Walkinshaw during the event. "The W580 quickly became popular, selling over 2,600 units throughout its production run. It turned into a flagship model for what was initially a fantastic vehicle—a pickup truck designed like a high-performance sports coupe—followed by an off-roader variant known as the W580X. Later, in September 2022, we introduced the limited edition 2022 Volkswagen Amarok W580SE, which consisted of just 99 units priced starting at $86,990 excluding additional fees.
The earlier version of the VW Amarok was built around the Volkswagen Amarok TDI580 Highline V6 turbodiesel engine, and we anticipate that the upcoming Walkinshaw Amarok will likely retain this configuration. It features a 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged diesel unit that generates 184 kW at 3250 rpm and delivers peak torque of 600 Nm between 1750 and 2250 rpm. Nevertheless, it might also opt for the gasoline-fueled variant from the regular Amarok lineup, equipped with a 2.3-liter inline-four turbocharged gas engine capable of producing 222 kW at 5900 rpm along with offering maximum torque of 452 Nm at 3350 rpm.
You'll get a 10-speed automatic transmission paired with both engine choices along with full-time all-wheel drive.
What should you anticipate? You'll find everything characteristic of a Walkinshaw offering. This includes advanced design, enhanced performance, and superior handling. We're eager for everyone to witness and experience this once the moment arrives; however, we extend our gratitude to Volkswagen for their backing and faith in the Walkinshaw Group.
I assure every person here that the new W-Series will be an unforgettable one.