Volkswagen is celebrating continued success in the New Zealand commercial vehicle market with the Amarok.
The vehicle has proven popular with Kiwis since its 2011 arrival as the first European ute in the country.
It now marks the arrival of the powerful top-of-the-line Amarok V6 580Nm Aventura.
The model delivers 190kW (200kW on over-boost), and 0 to 100kph in 7.3 seconds and class leading 580Nm of torque.
The Amarok initially featured a two-litre 120kW, 400Nm twin turbo TDI engine, available in manual transmission.
Volkswagen saw the introduction of the 8-speed automatic transmission option Amarok in 2012, matched to a new permanent all-wheel drive system.
The two-litre engine saw a slight boost with 132kW and 420Nm as some of the updates in performance.
For the next five years, the Amarok established itself as an aspirational one-tonne ute.
The two-litre engine had to prove its worth with many claiming it was unfit for the rough, tough ute world.
However, Volkswagen’s innovation in small displacement truck-bred technology has influenced some of the bigger players in the growing ute segment.
The three-litre V6 Amarok arrived in 2017 refined from other VW Group vehicles including the Porsche Cayenne and Audi A6, A7, Q7, as well as VW’s own Touareg. It featured 165kW (180kW on over-boost), 550Nm and 0 to100kph in 7.9 seconds.
Volkswagen New Zealand general manager Tom Ruddenklau says the Amarok is proving a much loved ute.
“Despite being available to Kiwis for less than a decade, the Amarok design has become grounded in what already seems to have become something of an iconic status amongst existing owners.
“The introduction of our new chart-topping model will only bolster such a position.
“As we know, the ute segment in New Zealand is highly competitive and driven by at times, some like-minded options for Kiwi drivers.
“The short evolution of the Volkswagen Amarok has provided us with some incredible product highlights, but more importantly has been the stories we hear day after day of Kiwis falling more in love with their Amarok,” Ruddenklau says.
Named international ute of the year 2018, the Volkswagen Amarok V6 range starts from $69,990 plus on roads.
The four-cylinder range is available in single cab from $59,990 as a double cab in ‘Comfortline’ specification.
