While Volkswagen is getting ready to retire the Amarok, replacing it with an all-new generation sharing bones with the upcoming Ford Ranger, Australians will get another special edition of the German pickup, locally developed by Melbourne-based Walkinshaw Performance: the Amarok W580X, an off-road-focused version of the W580 and W580S variants that are already on sale Down Under.
Under the bonnet, there is the good-old turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 diesel producing the same 255 hp and 580 Nm of torque, sending power to all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. What is novel to this Amarok is the new suspension with MTV twin-tube dampers and a front lift, which in combination with the all-terrain tires make it even more capable off the beaten track.
The 580X gets the same bonnet protector, black stripes, side graphics, 18-inch forged alloy wheels, and bumper inserts as the road-focused 580. However, it can be easily distinguished by the underbody protection by Seikel, the LED light bar at the front, the AT tires, and the optional snorkel. Standard equipment includes rubber mats, heated seats upholstered in velour with Walkinshaw branding, multi-function steering wheel with gearshift paddles, dual-zone climate control, tire-pressure monitoring, Bi-xenon headlights, and LED fog lamps.
The Amarok W580X will rival the likes of the Ford Ranger Raptor, the locally tuned Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior, and the Toyota HiLux Rugged X. Volkswagen Australia will announce pricing closer to the pickup truck’s launch, which is scheduled for April 2022.
