Overboost available on Volkswagen’s V6 Amarok

VOLKSWAGEN’S upcoming Amarok V6 pick-up will arrive equipped with an overboost function to temporarily boost power and torque from its 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine.

Overboost increases power from 165kW to 180kW and torque from 550Nm to 580Nm when the accelerator is at least 70 per cent depressed, and only works in third or fourth gear from 50km/h.

Only working for 10 second bursts, the system needs a five second break after use before re-engaging.

Volkswagen says it has received more than 6000 inquiries about the V6 Amarok, which goes on sale on November 24.

High-interest levels are likely due to the fact that it is the only pick-up in its class that uses a turbo-diesel V6, making it ideal for towing and load-lugging as its power and torque figures surpass that of its four and five-cylinder rivals.

The Amarok V6 is expected to remain without a rival until Mercedes-Benz introduces its recently revealed X-Class in 2018, which will likely employ a turbo-diesel V6 in top-spec guise.

The 3.0-litre V6 in the Amarok is used in a number of other Volkswagen Group models, including the Touareg, Porsche Panamera and Cayenne, and the Audi A5, A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7.

When the new Amarok range kicks-off, customers will have a choice between rear-wheel-drive, switchable four-wheel-drive and permanent four-wheel-drive traction depending on the variant, with power being fed through either an eight-speed automatic transmission or manual gearbox.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles director Carlos Santos said that the Amarok V6 was more than just a novelty.

“The Amarok V6 is not an over-hyped concept or a badge engineering exercise,” he said.

“It’s real, it’s almost here and it brings the world’s best V6 turbo-diesel, the same unit used by Porsche and Audi in luxury SUVs.”

Volkswagen has found 6505 homes for the Amarok to the end of September this year, a 4.6 per cent increase on the 6219 sold over the same time period last year.

The V6 Amarok will give the range a much-needed sales boost, as it currently trails rivals such as the Toyota HiLux on 30,827 sales, the Ford Ranger (26,940), Mitsubishi Triton (17,338), Holden Colorado (14,407), Nissan Navara (12,733) and Mazda BT-50 (11,279).