The new Volkswagen Amarok will be premiered at the Nampo Harvest Day in Bothaville, North West on Tuesday, 18 May 2010. Nampo is the largest agricultural show in the southern hemisphere and nearly 60 000 people visit the show over four days.

“The Nampo show offers us an ideal opportunity to introduce the Amarok to the South Africa public. Visitors to the Nampo show are mainly farmers who are amongst our key target customers for the Amarok” says Graeme Birch, Marketing Manager of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

Visitors will have an opportunity to meet Sarel van der Merwe, the brand ambassador of the new Amarok, who will take a few some lucky visitors onto the off-road course to experience the Amarok. One of the Amarok support vehicles used in this years Dakar Rally will also be on display.

The Volkswagen Amarok double cab will be launched locally in the third quarter of 2010 and the single cab will be launched in the first quarter of 2011.

With the Dakar rally currently underway, Volkswagen has announced their fleet of 35 Amarok pickups are performing well under the grueling conditions. Back in November VW announced the new Amarok pick-up truck would be the official support vehicle.

To deal with the difficult terrain, the Amaroks are equipped with an electronic differential lock, off-road anti-lock brakes (which shortens braking distances in off-road conditions or gravel roads), hill decent assist, and hill hold assist.

This year’s Dakar rally started on January 1st, from Buenos Aires, and includes a trip up the Andes Mountains, an adventure through the Atacama Desert, and a return voyage to Buenos Aires on January 17th.

According to Stephan Schaller, CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, “We are thrilled to put the new Amarok through its paces as part of this long distance challenge, the world’s toughest, before its official launch.”

Press Release (Click to expand)

Images of the all-new Volkswagen Amarok pickup truck leaked online Tuesday morning, nearly two weeks ahead of the vehicle’s official debut. Looking much like Volkswagen’s Concept Pickup shown over a year ago, the production model ditches the Ridgeline-like integrated body in favour of conventional body-on-frame construction with separate cab and box sections.

Power comes from a 2.0-litre common rail injection diesel motor, delivering 120 kW and 400 N.m of torque. A more economical version rated at 90 kW and 339 N.m will be added to the lineup a few months after launch. Customers will be able to choose between all-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive layouts. In the case of AWD, power is split 40-to-60 in favour of the rear wheels.

Production is expected to start later this year in Pacheco, Argentina, and the truck will be sold in South America, South Africa, Australia, as well as in some European countries. There are no known plans at this time for North American sales. That said, we can’t help but think a reasonably priced, fuel-efficient ‘pickup’ could do well in the United States at the moment.

Volkswagen is planning to build about 90 000 units annually.

Adapted from LeftLaneNews

The Dakar Rally runs from the 1st to the 17th of January 2010, covering a distance of 9 000 km through Argentina and Chile starting and finishing from Buenos Aires.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is the Official Supplier to the Dakar Rally and have chosen the Amarok to be the support vehicle. Organisers will use 20 Amarok with another 15 for press and shuttle vehicles.

The Rally will show the capabilities of the Amarok as it makes its way through all the stages. Four Amaroks will be fitted with additional off-road conversions for the trip.

“We are pleased to be able to use the Volkswagen Amarok as our Support Vehicle, because the Dakar Rally demands the highest levels of technical perfection, reliability and endurance – from our Race Touareg as much as from the support vehicles. The Amarok is exactly the right vehicle for our team”, explains Kris Nissen, Volkswagen Motorsport Director.

“The Volkswagen Amarok is Volkswagen’s answer to the pickup and on the Dakar Rally – one of the last great adventures for mankind – it will have the chance to show what it’s made of and to demonstrate its flexibility and durability”, adds Stephan Schaller, CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

“Moreover, the Volkswagen Amarok is built in Argentina and South America is one of the most important markets for this product, so taking part in the 2010 Dakar Rally was an absolute must for us”, stresses Schaller.

This is the first time the Volkswagen Amarok will be seen in Argentina, and will be on sale soon after. South America will be first to get the Amarok, followed by Europe. South Africans can expect to see VW’s first double-cab in showrooms in the last half of next year.

Adapted from CarAdvice

Volkswagen’s Amarok pickup, or ‘bakkie’ to us South African’s, has been spotted undergoing testing on Germany’s famous Nürburgring.

Looking virtually production ready, this particular prototype only has minor camouflage on the front and rear fascias. As we have previously reported, the Amarok will receive VW’s new grille, from the Golf 6 and new Polo, contemporary styling, and a modern interior.

While details are scarce, the Amarok will be offered in a variety of different configurations. The double cab model will be launched first, with a single cab version set to debut shortly thereafter. As with most ‘bakkies’, consumers will be able to buy an Amarok with two- or four-wheel drive.

Power will come from a new-generation of common-rail diesel engines, which should combine impressive fuel economy for a bakkie, with modest CO2 emissions.

Built at VW’s Pachero plant near Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Amarok will be launched in Central- and South America in early 2010. Six months later, the truck will be offered to Russian and European consumers. Australia and Africa will receive the new model towards the end of 2010.

Adapted from WorldCarFans