FIVE-STAR safety, class leading dynamics, a spacious cabin and a heavy payload launch the all-new Volkswagen Amarok headlong in to Australia’s super-tough ute market.

Volkswagen’s first legitimate HiLux rival also brings German design and engineering to the segment for the first time and the initial diesel/manual-only dual-cab body style will next year be supplemented by single-cab, petrol and automatic transmission versions.

Will all that be enough to take on the established players?