by Holly Tribe
It’s not often that one of the big car manufacturers enters a completely new sector. And with the new Volkswagen Amarok the motoring public finally got a chance this afternoon to see the first ever pickup from the German brand.
The VW Amarok takes its name from the Inuit word for ‘wolf’, which Volkswagen says perfectly represents the vehicle as “a figure of robustness, endurance and superiority.” It’s a double-cab pickup with four wheel drive capability, first showcased as a concept car back in 2008.
To prove its superior pulling power, the Amarok battled in a tug of war with an industrial chimney the height of Westminster Abbey at the official launch in Berkshire today. (In case you’re wondering, the chimney, if you’ll forgive the pun, stacked it)
Powered by a twin-turbo 2.0-litre BiTDI engine, the company claims to have ‘reinvented the pick-up to deliver more power more intelligently’. Available in two power outputs; 122hp with 340Nm of torque, or 163hp with 400Nm of torque, this new addition to the Volkswagen Towcar stable boasts a significant level of towing competency.
Exceptional towing capabilities
The vehicle comes equipped with state of the art technology, designed to keep the vehicle safe both on the road and off. An Electronic Stabilisation Programme links up to the car’s electronic systems such as the engine braking control (EBC) and anti-lock brakes (ABS). Sensors mounted on the wheels and steering wheel can detect loss of stability and over/under steer problems, avoiding skidding before it occurs.
The latest generation ESP can also identify trailer snaking motions. It reacts by applying brakes to the wheels in sync with the snaking action and reducing the power output from the engine until the yaw movement is under control which offering exceptional trailer stabilisation.
Amarok and caravans
For the heavy duty caravanner, the Amarok is a well stocked utility vehicle with enough torque to handle a twin axle rig with ease. There’s a decent level of space for five people to travel in comfort and a ‘best-in-class’ load area can be used to store all the paraphernalia that goes along with caravanning.
All models come equipped with state of the art safety systems, including Hill Hold Assist, Hill Descent Control and off-road ABS which is designed to decrease stopping distances particularly on loose surfaces; this could be of real benefit when setting up on uneven grass or gravel pitches.
A towbar and electrics for trailer systems with a load of up to 2,800kg can be fitted for an extra £412.50. And the perceived ‘stigma’ that surrounds open back pick-up trucks on caravan sites may be avoided by adding a hard top canopy to the shopping basket which comes as cost option, albeit a pricey one, of £2,300.
With all this under the hood – the VW Amarok could well be a strong contender in the forthcoming Caravan Club’s Towcar of the Year Awards 2012. And it wouldn’t be the first time a utility vehicle won a prestigious towcar award; the Isuzu Rodeo picked up a towing accolade in recent years, so watch this space…
- Price: from £16,995
- Kerbweight: 3,170kg
- Torque: 340 – 400 Nm
For full model specification details, head to the Volkswagen website here.
