Amarok Pricing and Specs are out!!

[Jake02]

I really do love the Amarok and I'm thinking an Ultimate 4Motion in white with black leather would be a nice replacement to my current white beast. For me, the Highline presents the best value - yes it's $54k but it offers a lot of stuff, especially stuff over the only-$900 cheaper HiLux SR5 (climate control, bigger wheels, 5-star NCAP and actual class) and cheaper Triton GLX-R (but you have to add the premium pack to make it classier and almost to the Amarok's level). I feel that the Ultimate presents massive value over the Navara 3.0 diesel (engine is better at pulling but a standard 7-speed auto and that it's a Renault engine put me off) with standard leather, 19s and the like.

Things I'd like to see over the years:
- Non halogen headlamps (the projector halogens in my RS are fabulous in range).
- Cornering foglamps.
- Electric-folding mirrors (I'm sure you could get this aftermarket as the mirrors are basically Touareg/Q5/Q7 mirrors).
- MDI (it's optional isn't it? Should be standard as well as Bluetooth).
- Rear armrest.

But otherwise, I'd tap that! I'd also like to see other VW Group members take on the Amarok... The Czechs with their specialisation in engineering and practicality, I feel would do it even better. A Skoda ute would be cheaper too.

[Tornado T5]

Is it true the future auto version will use a conventional torque converter 8 speed ZF?

edit: just received the lateset GoAuto newsletter with the following claim:

GoAuto has learned the latter will not be
a dual-clutch automated manual DSG unit,
which was deemed unsuitable for low-speed
load-carrying or hill-climbing work, but a
conventional eight-speed torque converter
auto from ZF, constituting yet another
unique feature in the ute segment.

[tobyobi]

Is it true the future auto version will use a conventional torque converter 8 speed ZF?

edit: just received the lateset GoAuto newsletter with the following claim:

It wouldn't be the first place I've heard such a claim.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f130/my11-amarok-australian-specifications-54586-2.html#post615958

[Seano]

Glad I'm not the only one sensing pricing and specification fail here.

I just can't help thinking that VW are just targeting an audience they already own - Golf and Passat drivers who would love to drive a 'tough truck' and can't seem themselves in a Tiguan or Touareg. People already accepting of the brand, their engineering and their quirks.....not too many of those amongst the Great Unwashed.

What they need to do to sell a few is convince fleet buyers and current Jap (OK Thai) ute owners that VW have a better product at a better price. They may have a better product except that it is different to everything else available on the market (4 cyl twin turbo), a completely new design (even the engine) and it is priced similarly to the already expensive market leader (but one that has a long and tightly held reputation for quality and reliability - at least in the fleet market).

Honestly.....I was seriously considering an Amarok as a replacement for our T4 dual cab. Something a little smaller and more off road capable while maintaining a respectable load carrying ability. But frankly VW have fallen into exactly the same greedy trap as almost every other manufacturer by pricing these toys poorly against other model options in their range.

Tiguan $37K
Passat wagon $37K
Transporter DC $45K

Except VW have been doubly dim because they have another roomier, much larger and similarly featured dual cab in their range with a more powerful engine of the same type.....and there's a relatively insignificant pricing differential between them.

Oh I'm sure they'll sell and they'll probably outsell the other commercial vehicles......but I still say that it'll take sometime...quite sometime before the Amarok is anything but a niche (dare I say oddity) model in the dual cab market.

[Tornado T5]

And the discussions I've been privy to re fleet managers shown the new T6 Ranger is that it is a big step up over all current offerings including passive safety, rear seating in dual cabs etc so the competition is not just going to be the expensive Hilux models. Thai sourcing/pricing due to FTA will mean specs can be high.

[phaeton]

T6 Ranger/BT50 will undoubtbly be better priced and featured when it hits the market, only issue is its bigger than the Amarok, to big if you ask me.

[Peter Jones]

Somewhat sadly, I'm going to say that waiting for runout stock deals for the current model Mazda 4x4 BT50 Dual cab SDX would be my pick over the Amarok if I had to go out and buy a ute soon.

Fully optioned up they're in the $40K ballpark driveaway pricing.

Amarok has slightly better numbers performance wise but the Mazda can tow and carry more. (and has the 'conventional' engine approach.)

I've driven a 2wd BT50 and found the cabin fit out quite acceptable. It's a car I could certainly live with.

I'd love an Amarok one day, if they'd come in closer to $40K for a Trendline I might have been able to scape up the funds, but at $47 + on roads I'll sit this round out thanks.

I do like the Amarok more but I'm struggling to see the value.

[phaeton]

I'd love an Amarok one day, if they'd come in closer to $40K for a Trendline I might have been able to scape up the funds, but at $47 + on roads I'll sit this round out thanks.

I do like the Amarok more but I'm struggling to see the value.

x2 I was expecting at the most 43K+ onroads etc but $47k is really killing its potential.

[roscoe21]

Flyingfridge......how is it that you have this pricing? I asked my dealer who I have a order with , and they had absolutely no idea about the pricing at all. They said, they will only be issued with pricing as of the 24 feb.....

[flyingfridge]

It's in the press roscoe - it usually gets published by the press before it's communicated to dealers. I'm pretty sure The Motor Report was first to publish it on Monday afternoon.

[m3103]

I'm sorry guys but I think a lot of you arent thinking the whole pricing issue through.
As stated already the trendline model Rok is the same spec as an sr5 hilux which is the leader in it's class. My dad has owned sr5 for the past 4years and I must say they are very good cars. Never once had a problem with them. I'm a big fan.
Some of you are saying what about the triton and bt-50? I can't speak for the bt-50, but the triton I've found to be the case of "it's cheaper for a reason". The hilux is a far superior Product.
If the vw golf is anything to go by, then the amarok should be a cut above the rest in quality and that alone will attract a large number of people.
Oh and the current hilux sr5's go for closer to 60k these days so the ultimate really is the option of choice IMO.

[csiorange]

Steering Controls

Whats the go with no steering controls on the Rok not even as an option??

Can you fit a steering wheel from another model, is there a wiring loom????

This could be sale killer

Not that I care but Trendline does not have chrome rear bumpers which visually give the Hilux more street cred.

What are the differences between the STX which sells for $38,888 driveaway and Trendline ?

BTW I'm not tryng to put the Amarok down just understand why VW have priced it higher than what I was expecting - I guess the main aim was to below Hilux which they achieved and I knew they would be priced highly compared to competitors not this high though.

[sh|tbmxrider]

Why, the massive amount of effort in moving your hand 8 inches to the radio?

D-Max & Colorado still sell and don't have it