The all-new second-gen VW Amarok debuted in July based on Ford Ranger underpinnings, but the company only showed us pictures of high-spec trims including the flagship Panamericana. For those wondering what the base-spec Amarok will look like, we got access to a series of patent images from the European office, revealing all of the cost-cutting design compromises. First of all, the cheapest Amarok adopts a single-cab bodystyle, instead of the double cab model we have seen in the press shots. This limits the passenger capacity of the pickup, but it also has a positive effect on the size of the rear bed.

Predictably, the front and rear bumpers – including the skidplates – are left unpainted, giving the Amarok utilitarian looks. The chrome-finished part of the grille is gone, since there is no practical use for it. The headlights are covered in the patent drawings, but we guess they will loose the sophisticated matrix-LED graphics, going for a more cost-efficient solution with simpler LEDs. The wheels are also covered but we would be surprised if the entry-level model didn’t come with a set of steelies.

 

Moving over at the back, the rear end looses the fancy Amarok-specific full-LED taillight units, opting for a pair of larger clusters, similar to the Ford Ranger. We must admit however that VW went the extra step and created new taillight graphics instead of sourcing them directly from the sibling pickup. The significantly longer rear bed is free of any additional components (bars, covers etc), while the tailgate doesn’t feature the “Amarok” lettering – at least not in these patents.

Inside the cabin, the two-seater Amarok will most likely feature the 10-inch touchscreen for the infotainment instead of the 12-inch unit of the more expensive trims. It is also safe to assume that the cabin will come with fabric upholstery, while the equipment will be more focused on practicality and durability, without the premium features of the passenger version. The base VW Amarok will come fitted with a turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel engine producing 148 hp in South Africa, or 168 hp in other markets. Power will be transmitted to the rear wheels through a manual gearbox, as is the case with most entry-level trims of rival pickups.

Automakers usually do not make a fuss about stripped-out variants of their models, but we will learn more about the single-cab VW Amarok when it becomes available on the official configurator.