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Vokswagen Amarok 580S limited edition gets more black

Volkswagen Australia has detailed a special 580S version of the ever-popular Amarok ute; it’s loaded up with goodies inside and out, although there’s a conspicuous absence of added off-road ability.

The $70,990 ($77,507 driveaway) Amarok 580S edition commands a $6,000 premium over the $64,990 ($71,181 driveaway) 580 Highline and is available to order through Volkswagen’s online ordering platform.

Over $70,000 is an awful lot for a ‘work’ vehicle. Still, we know that Volkswagen’s current Amarok does offer a fantastic amount of everyday usability. However, its off-road chops might come into question against Ford’s Ranger, Nissan’s Navara and the venerable Toyota Hilux.

Now, we know that the dual-cab marketplace will be shaken up soon; a new Ranger and Amarok are on the way, as is an all-new Hilux.

But that doesn’t mean the 580S should be ignored; Volkswagen has thrown quite the catalogue of extras at the Amarok for this limited run of 200 units.

First and foremost is the exclusive carbon steel grey paintwork – though customers can opt for deep black pearl or candy white too. Additional lighting has been added thanks to a roof-mounted light bar sporting dual 86-watt LED lights.

More black makes an appearance on the 20-inch alloy wheels – which won’t be much good for the mud – a different body-colour front bumper, and premium black rollover protection.

Heated front seats make a welcome appearance, as does art velour upholstery, a black headliner and pillar trim. 

Under the bonnet is the same class-leading turbo-diesel V6 producing the same 200kW (on over-boost) and 580Nm, a refined and surprisingly car-like powertrain. Twisting force is shared between all four wheels via an eight-speed torque converter auto as standard.

For the 200 units, it’s clear Volkswagen have prioritised the Amarok’s pulling card – it’s on-road manners – instead of the trend for gnarlier off-road kit like the Navara N-Trek Warrior. 

That certainly bucks the current trend, but it makes total sense in our book. And we know the Amarok is capable enough to handle what most will throw at it off the beaten patch.

Conjecture runs rife about the next-gen Amarok, with indications there will be a Ranger Raptor style ‘super-ute’ to come. We await more news on that, though.

For now we reckon the limited edition 580S looks purposeful in its black-on-black colourway, and Volkswagen says the special edition is selling fast on the new online sales platform.

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VW Amarok V6 manual with low range arrives, priced sub-$50k

The long-awaited Volkswagen Amarok V6 equipped with a manual gearbox and a low range transfer case has finally arrived in Australia – 38 months after its existence was first mooted at the Australian launch of the six-cylinder Amarok in November 2016.

Powered by the same three-litre turbocharged diesel V6 as its eight-speed automatic brethren, the 2020 Volkswagen Amarok V6 Core manual nips two of the most common criticisms of the Amarok from the off-roading community in the bud.

Unlike the auto, which uses a highly advanced all-wheel-drive system, the new six-speed manual variant is a traditional four-wheel-drive with a low range transfer case – and it also has a mechanical rear differential lock.

This combination of a V6 engine with a manual gearbox within the Amarok is unique in the world, and Volkswagen Australia says they lobbied head office hard to make the case for the vehicle.

Ryan Davies, director of Volkswagen’s commercial vehicles division in Australia, said he heard the strong call from consumers at “every off-road, caravan and camping expo and Big Red Bash concert” his team had attended.

Priced in Australia at $49,590, the Amarok V6 manual squeaks in under fifty grand and becomes the most serious dual-cab offered locally with a stick shift. With engine outputs of 165kW/500Nm – and 180kW on overboost – the manual trails the eight-speed automatic variant by just 50Nm.

Towing capacity is cut from 3.5 tonnes in the automatic variants to 3 tonnes in the manual – though the payload heads north of a tonne to 1,004kg.

Based on the existing Amarok V6 Core specification, the new manual model features a leather-wrapped steering wheel, durable cloth seating, 17-inch alloy wheels and a touchscreen infotainment system that can run Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

An additional variant, called the V6 Core Enduro, will also be offered with a manual gearbox – rather unusually at no additional cost over a standard Core. The Enduro adds branded side decals, a front bonnet protector, and a black sports bar in the tray.

The V6 diesel offered in the Amarok has done previous duty in Porsche and Audi SUVs, and now accounts for four in every five sales of the Volkswagen ute.

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