VW Amarok W580X now available

THE Volkswagen W580X is now officially on sale. Joining other Walkinshaw-enhanced Amaroks including the W580 and W580S and priced from $78,890 plus on-road costs – or $1500 more than originally quoted – just 600 examples of the limited-edition dual-cab ute will be sold.

Volkswagen says the off-road-focused variant is engineered to face the toughest Australian conditions and with 190kW and 580Nm of V6 turbo-diesel power plus a locally tuned suspension setup, will excel on a range of surfaces including fire trails, hard-packed gravel roads and hill climbs.

The lifted suspension featuring MTV twin tube dampers endows the W580X with improved wheel articulation and long-stroke damping to better deali with tough conditions, VW says.

Wheelarch extensions, a custom bash plate, rock sliders and 18-inch Clayton alloy wheels with 265/60 profile Pirelli Scorpion AT-Plus tyres also promise to help the W580X tackle the toughest parts of the country.

Further standard features of the Amarok W580X include a 75-watt 17-inch LED light bar, LED foglights, a revised upper grille, additional front bumper inserts, Walkinshaw branded Art Velour upholstery, heated front seats and branded rubber floor mats. A snorkel is optionally available.

Volkswagen Australia says its Walkinshaw-engineered variants now comprise 20 per cent of all V6 Amarok sales, the V6 range itself accounting for 90 per cent of all variant sales in 2021 and 2022. Production of the brand’s Walkinshaw-enhanced variants began in May 2021 with some 1400 examples produced to date.

“The partnership with Walkinshaw continues to bring out the best of German and Australian engineering that remains a flagship Amarok hallmark,” Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle brand director Ryan Davies said of the Argentinian-made ute.

“The current generation Amarok is widely loved for its V6 power and towing and praised by media for still setting the on-road benchmark for driving dynamics. The W580X retains this high watermark while adding authentically Australian elements perfect for the most rugged local off-road conditions.”

Volkswagen has sold 1489 Amaroks across the first four months of this year, accounting for 2.4 per cent of the ever-popular 4x4 utility segment. The Amarok ranks ninth within the segment.

Toyota continues to dominate the category with its HiLux amassing 14,498 unit sales across the same period (22.9 per cent market share). The remainder of the category’s top 10 sellers include the Ford Ranger (12,286 and 19.4 per cent), Mitsubishi Triton (11,617 and 18.4 per cent), Isuzu D-Max (6464 and 10.2 per cent), Mazda BT-50 (4650 and 7.3 per cent), Nissan Navara (4226 and 6.7 per cent), Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series (3367 and 5.3 per cent), and the Ram 1500 (1233 and 1.9 per cent).

2022 Volkswagen Amarok W Series pricing*:

W580 (a)        $73,490

W580X (a)        $78,890    (new variant)

W580S (a)        $81,490

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.