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Future models - Volkswagen - AmarokAmarok V6 democratisation on the cards?Core and Life grades could be in line for V6 option to bolster Amarok fleet appeal9 May 2024 VOLKSWAGEN Australia could expand its V6 Amarok offering at the next model year revamp, with executives at the brand suggesting the range could see some changes. Currently, Volkswagen’s Amarok line-up consists of four powertrain choices; the Core base model has a single-turbo diesel (TDI405), while the Life and Style models are available with a bi-turbo diesel (TDI500), and the Style, Panamericana and Aventura have a V6 diesel (TDI600). There is also the turbo-petrol TSI452 on offer in the Aventura.
By the time the previous-generation Amarok reached the end of its lifecycle, VW offered its own TDI V6 engine across the entire model range. However, the second-generation Amarok uses a Ford-built Lion V6 – which has lineage dating back decades – and six-cylinder choices are limited to utes with a price-tag north of $73,000.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles head of marketing and product, Nathan Johnson, said the business is assessing how it can make the V6 available to more Amarok buyers.
“We're exploring where we can get the V6, and there's definitely opportunity down there (at the lower end of the range),” said Mr Johnson. “There's nothing official to say yet, but we're definitely exploring that opportunity.”
Mr Johnson explained that it is not necessarily a matter of pulling demand away from the high-grade models, but instead about appealing to a different type of customer that may have more of an impact on the brand’s bottom line than a private buyer.
“I think it'll open up more opportunities for us in other areas – fleets and so forth,” Mr Johnson said.
“There's always going to be strong demand for the top-spec models. We've seen that for the past six or seven years since we brought V6 in but it's more to open up further opportunities for us in the market.”
When asked about other potential powertrains, such as the plug-in hybrid to be offered in the Ford Ranger – with which the current Amarok was co-developed – from 2025, and the all-new BYD Shark plug-in hybrid due this year, Mr Johnson said that he and the brand are keeping an eye on progress.
"It's an interesting space – we're just waiting to see how it all goes,” he said, alluding to the potential impact of the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) on the ute market when it kicks in next year.
“We're exploring everything. There's nothing official that we can say that we have from the factories as yet, but there's definitely conversations, off the back of the new NVES scheme.”
Volkswagen Australia general manager of corporate communications, Paul Pottinger, indicated the business could push on without a PHEV ute from a NVES perspective.
“We as a group, and Volkswagen as a brand, is in pretty good shape. Other brands, which probably don't have the same diverse portfolio, or (the lack of) a diverse portfolio at all would be a greater concern for them,” he said of the VW Group’s array of businesses.
These include Cupra, Skoda, Audi and Porsche, through which multiple fuel-efficient internal combustion engine models, plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles are already sold in Australia, with more of the latter to arrive in the coming months to offset the emissions of heavier polluting utes and such.
“It's an interesting development, alternative drivetrains are always interesting,” said Mr Pottinger. “But our necessity wouldn't be as great as others.”
The Amarok ute has just pushed itself into the number-one selling spot for VW in Australia, displacing the T-Roc small SUV.
According to VFACTS sales figures to the end of April 2024, the Amarok had chalked up 3003 deliveries to account for 25.5 per cent of VW’s total Australian volume of 11,750 units through the first four months of this year.  Read more9th of January 2024  MY23 Volkswagen Amarok on run-out, MY24 pricedAmarok Style TDI600 joins Core, Life and Style variants in run-out; MY24 pricing announcedAll future models Alfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chery Brabham Chrysler Chevrolet Cupra Citroen DS Dodge Fiat Ferrari Foton Ford Great Wall FPV Haval GWM Honda Holden Hummer HSV Infiniti Hyundai Jaguar Isuzu Kia Jeep Land Rover Lamborghini Lexus LDV Mahindra Lotus Mazda Maserati Mercedes-AMG McLaren MG Mercedes-Benz Mitsubishi Mini Opel Nissan Peugeot Pagani Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo VolkswagenAmarok pricing
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Motor industry newsGoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events. |
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