Believe it or not, there are more bakkies sold across the world every year than the most plentiful passenger car. The Ford F-series bakkie for example, sold exclusively in North America, sells close on a million new units a year. That works out to something ridiculous like 100 an hour, every day of every week. Overall there are more bakkies in the world right now, than there are South Africans or Australians or New Zealanders or Rwandans… you get the idea.

The same trend prevails here on home soil too. The Toyota Hilux has sold 5.5 million units worldwide since 1969, and 850 000 of them reside in South Africa. That’s 1 600 units every month for 42 years and all of them are presumably still going. The Toyota Hilux, while getting a bit long in the tooth – and no they aren’t fooling anyone with the new chrome face, still goes toe-to-toe with the most prolific passenger car sold locally every month. The Hilux has 41% of the bakkie market all shored up for itself. But don’t think Volkswagen hasn’t been eyeing them out.

You see, to make a safe, comfortable passenger car takes a lot of research and development from an automaker. Thanks to Euro NCAP and the Institute for Highway Safety in North America, you can’t just flog out a cheap-as-chips car and expect it to be an instant sales phenomenon… Although how some manufacturers have tried and succeeded outside of the U.S. and Europe (ahem… think South Africa’s love affair with the Citi Golf).

Profit margins are slim on a car like the new Ford Focus, versus a comparably priced F-series bakkie. Bakkies run on relatively simple engineering like ladder chassis’, leaf spring suspension and old drivetrains, but if you add some leather on the inside the manufacturer can jack up the price. Finance experts believe the profit on a bakkie to be double that of a passenger car. F-series bakkie’s account for half of Ford’s overall profit every year, making bakkie’s an avenue for untold mountains of cash for automakers. Nissan’s positively archaic Hardbody bakkie is still their most profitable endeavour in South Africa.

Why are these simple transport solutions still so popular with consumers then? Well, aside from their commercial use, I believe it has to do with the frontier spirit that lives somewhere in us all. A bakkie makes you feel like a pioneer – forging ahead into unchartered territories.

The Volkswagen Amarok does exactly that, and captures that exact spirit while being undoubtedly the most hi-tech bakkie made in the world today. Volkswagen got us used to the idea of an advanced and desirable bakkie with the double cab, and now they’re ramming the initiative home with their new Single Cab.

Prime amongst their advances in the bakkie realm is the use of highly fuel-efficient TDI, direct injection engines with the 2.0-litre TDI (90 kW & 340 Nm), and the 2.0-litre Bi-TDI (120 kW & 400 Nm), whose levels of performance are achieved with exceptional economy: The 2.0-litre TDI consumes just 7.6 L/100km and the 2.0-litre Bi-TDI just 7.9 L/100km. Arriving later in the year in the Amarok Single Cab range is the 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine with maximum power of 118 kW and peak torque of 300 Nm. A bakkie with a clean revving, turbo charged motor of Golf GTI genealogy is absolute madness, but I can’t wait to have a go.

This hi-tech attitude doesn’t mean Volkswagen have forgotten about the real nitty-gritty of commercial vehicles. The Single Cab Amarok has the biggest payload capacity in its class: 1 345 kg and towing capacity is unrivalled, with a gross combination mass of 5 550 kg, that’s 30% better than any competitor.

What’s most impressive though in the Amarok Single Cab, 4Motion Trendline, that we tested, is the interior comfort and space. I most appreciate Volkswagen’s common sense thinking. It’s utterly conceivable that a commercial farmer is going to travel long distances between the town centre and his farm, so our Trendline offers cruise control and a trip computer for the long haul, height and reach adjustable steering wheel for interior comfort and a hook to hang your Sunday best jacket on, along the way. What more can you ask for?

Counter arguments that have been levelled against the Volkswagen Amarok surround reliability. That it’s a bit of a light weight against the might of the tried and tested Toyota Hilux. Well, understandably, for a brand new car, that we can only test for a week we have no way of really answering that question. However, we did drive our Single Cab test unit, non-stop for 955 km, until the fuel tank was empty, over every terrain available in the Western Cape, and it didn’t miss a beat. Tar roads, urban driving, motorways, gravels roads, sandy off-roading, muddy roads without so much as a coffee break for the hard working driver (me), and it took them all in its stride. All we can do is wait and see what customer feedback and reliability surveys say.

The ride quality wasn’t even all that bad considering the less hi-tech rear suspension used on the Single Cab over the double cab Amarok. The car became a bit of a bouncy castle depending on the off road corrugations, but we’d still peg it streets ahead of other single cab competitors. The optional (R3 772) Electronic Stability Control (ESP) is a worthwhile and inexpensive add-on to tame the bouncy rear end.
We can’t think of anything we’d change to make the Amarok Single Cab any better. Volkswagen had its first month of single cab sales in August, breaking 1 000 units sold in the bakkie segment in South Africa. Still quite a way off the phenomenon that is the Toyota Hilux, but making an impact never the less.

What we like…

• Massive dimensions combined with a tall ride height, great wheel travel and 4Motion lets it go anywhere off road.
• Turbo diesel motor pulls well through all gears and delivers great economy.
• Class leading towing and load capacity tick all the right commercial boxes.
• Brilliantly comfortable interior with cruise control, trip computer and build quality that revolutionises the bakkie market.

What we would like…

• The Amarok to successfully prove its reliability and dissuade any naysayers.

Ray Leathern has been test driving and critiquing cars for four years now. You’ll find his work at autocirca.com, the Mail & Guardian and of course, right here on SACarFan.

Since introducing the Amarok double-cab in late 2010, Volkswagen South Africa have managed to garner 16 percent of the market, with 9 percent coming from their toughest competitor, the Toyota Hilux. The ‘strong and smart’ virtues that underlie the Amarok’s name have seen customers rate their new purchase as top drawer for ride quality, exterior styling and performance. The new Amarok Single Cab is less leisure/lifestyle and more light commercial (LCV) in its focus, prompting VW’s new slogan, “working hard and working smart”.

With the new Amarok Single Cab, Volkswagen aims to carve itself another sizeable chunk of the market, but this time within the LCV segment where sales of 1-tonne single cab bakkies account for 33 percent. There are two distinct buyers in the segment, namely, fleet customers and individuals. With this in mind, Volkswagen will be offering their new single cab with a choice of two diesel engines, one petrol engine, as well as two levels of trim and equipment.

The working man’s Amarok is available from launch in either 90 kW or 120 kW guise, in two-wheel or four-wheel drive (4Motion) and in ‘Basic’ or ‘Trendline’ specification. Aimed squarely at the fleet market, who cite cost of ownership, quality, durability and safety as key criteria, the Basic specification models feature power steering, height adjustable seats, fabric upholstery, rubber load bay covering and 16-inch steel wheels. For individual buyers, who place a higher priority on comfort and features for an overlap between work and play, the Trendline models boast alloy wheels, a colour coded front bumper and chrome grille accents, while inside, creature comforts include air conditioning, remote central locking, electric windows and mirrors, an audio system, on-board computer, cruise control, as well as a leather-covered steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake lever.

The new Amarok Single Cab is class-leading in a number of areas. It has the widest load box at 1 620 mm with a usable width between the wheel arches of 1 222 mm – more than 100 mm up on its nearest competitor. This is the only vehicle in the class that accommodates two Euro pallets in a crosswise configuration (a Euro pallet measures 1 200 X 800 mm). Payload capacity is top of the class too, at between 1 225 and 1 354 kgs, depending on the model. Once again, when it comes to towing capacity the Amarok moves the game on, with a gross combination mass of 5 500kg, some 30% more than its nearest rival. This allows for a braked trailer weight of 2 800kg, almost double that of competitors, on both 4X2 and 4X4 models. This towing performance applies to gradients of up to 12%.

While there has been focus on maximised load space and operating efficiency, driver comfort and interior space have not been overlooked. Leg and shoulder room is substantial, even for the tallest of drivers. A steering column that is adjustable for both height and reach, and seat height adjustment, provide for added driver comfort. A large space behind the seats tops off the interior accommodation. In addition, the interior trimmings are durable whilst still managing to impart a more premium feel than expected in a workhorse of this nature, making for a very user friendly cabin.

As expected, the winning ride quality has made the jump from the double cab to single cab chassis. Volkswagen’s Amarok features rear leaf springs that are mounted alongside the ladder frame chassis rather than directly under the frame members. This facilitates a lower load bay floor, a lower loading sill height, as well as a deeper load box (508 mm) with higher sides and tailgate relative to the load box floor. A further spinoff is a lower centre of gravity for the vehicle along with the more pliant and less jittery ride quality.

Driver safety is an area which has also received attention in the Amarok’s development. Included in the safety specification across the range are: ABS anti-lock braking, EBD – Electronic Brake Force Distribution, and TCS traction control system. A driver side airbag is provided in the Basic specification with the option to upgrade to a passenger side airbag with de-activation switch. Driver and passenger airbags are included in the Trendline specification. Daytime running lights are a feature across the range.

The 4Motion all-wheel drive system features a two-speed transfer case (high and low ratios) driving through a rigid 4X4 system (no centre differential). Engagement of 4Motion can be done ‘on the fly’ at the press of a button. A rear differential lock provides for an even higher level of traction in tougher conditions. The launch saw us traversing a rocky 4×4 route, through which the Amarok clambered with minimal effort.

In terms of performance, all models are fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission. The entry-level 2.0-litre 90 kW turbodiesel engine develops 340 Nm of torque between 1750 – 2250 r/min, which proved adequate for the up and down nature of the Eastern Cape, even when Volkswagen loaded 350 kgs into the rear. Volkswagen claim fuel consumption of 7.6 L/100km on the combined cycle, which gives this model a theoretical range of around 1 000 km per tank.

The 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo TDI engine offers a bit more clout, with 120 kW and 400 Nm between 1 500 – 2 000 r/min. With the added ‘go’, the Bi-Turbo reaches 100 km/h from rest in 10.5 seconds and has a top speed of 180 km/h. Fuel consumption for the Bi-Turbo is rated at 7.9 L/100km.

A 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine will join the model range towards the end of 2011, offering buyers 118 kW, 300 Nm of torque and fuel consumption of 9.5 L/100km.

Well built and well equipped, Volkswagen are expecting their new Amarok Single Cab to earn 10 percent of the 1-tonne single cab market within its first 18 months on sale. With brand loyalty often considered an obstacle to gaining traction in the market, it’s interesting to note that the Amarok double cab surpassed VW’s sales expectations within its first year. Don’t be surprised to find plenty of Amarok courier and delivery vehicles on our roads in the coming months.

Prices include a 3-year/100 000km warranty, 5-year/90 000km service plan and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty. Service intervals are every 15 000km.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles unveiled the Amarok Single Cab at the 2011 Nampo Harvest Day Show in Bothaville, North West this week. The launch of the Single Cab completes the Amarok model range following the launch of the Double Cab in September 2010. The Double Cab has proven a popular choice with over 2500 units sold in South Africa by the end of April 2011.

South Africa has the largest single cab bakkie market in the world. Hence Volkswagen Group has identified South Africa as the first market globally to launch the Amarok Single Cab. In 2010, 39 938 one-ton single cab bakkies were sold in South Africa. At launch, the Amarok Single Cab will be available in two common rail diesel engines: the 2.0-litre 90 kW and 2.0-litre 120 kW BiTurbo. The four cylinder 90 kW engine generates 340 N.m of torque between 1 750 – 2 000 r/min, whilst the two-stage control bi-turbocharged 120 kW engine has maximum of torque of 400 N.m available at a low 1 500 r/min. Both engines are mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.

Jaco Steenekamp (General Manager, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles) and Sarel van der Merwe (Amarok ambassador)

Similar to the Double Cab, the Single Cab is available with an option of selectable 4Motion all wheel drive as well as 4×2 rear wheel drive. For extra stability and strength, the Amarok Single Cab’s ladder frame chassis is supported by heavy duty springs. They allow the Amarok Single Cab to carry a payload up to 1 279 kg. The Amarok Single Cab’s loading width of 1 222 mm between the wheelhouses is the benchmark in its class. The loading width accomodates a standard size Euro pallet and six lashing eyes ensure that the load is safely secured.

Standard active safety features in the new single cab include Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), Off-Road ABS, Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Anti Slip Regulation (ASR).

The Amarok Single Cab will go on sale in the first week of July 2011.

The Volkswagen Amarok single cab will make its debut at the 2011 NAMPO Harvest Day in Bothaville, North West on 17 – 20 May 2011. Following the introduction of the double cab in 2010, the much anticipated launch of the single cab will complete the Amarok model range when its retail starts early in July 2011. To date, nearly 2 500 Amarok Double cab units have been sold.

“We have been overwhelmed by the positive response the double cab has received from our customers in the past six months. The imminent introduction of the single cab will push the Amarok product offering to the most competitive segment of the light commercial vehicles market where brand loyalty counts when buying decisions are made. The success of the double cab has laid a strong foundation for Amarok to be major player in the light commercial vehicles segment,” Jaco Steenekamp, General Manager of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

Once again this year, visitors to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ stand 144 will get an opportunity to meet the legendary ‘Supervan’, who is the Brand Ambassador of the Amarok. Sarel van der Merwe will take lucky visitors to the stand onto the off road course to experience off road capabilities of the Amarok.

Read our road test on the Amarok 2.0 BiTDI Double-Cab here.