Unlike the Mercedes-Benz X-Class, the VW Amarok pickup will get a replacement model that will share its underpinnings with Ford’s next Ranger truck and today we get a first glimpse at it.
Yes, the flamboyant design sketch you see here comes from Volkswagen and was flashed during the automaker’s Annual Media Conference. While teaser images are known to exaggerate the visual appeal, it’s pretty clear the second-generation VW Amarok will be much bolder than the current one.
Highlights include the bulged wheel arches, acres of ground clearance (thanks in part to the massive off-road wheels), and a bold front end sporting design cues from VW’s latest SUV models. We can also spot an aggressively-cut front bumper that allows us to see the skid plate and much of the front suspension.
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Current VW Amarok Canyon for South Africa
We don’t know how many of these design cues will make it to the production model but we do know the second-generation VW Amarok will be based on the upcoming Ford Ranger. In summer 2019, the two automakers agreed to cooperate in the commercial vehicle segment and the next-generation Amarok and Ranger will be the first joint model.
It’s worth noting that the midsize pickup project will be developed by Ford for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region and South America. The new Ford Ranger and VW Amarok twins are expected to debut in 2022 with distinct identities but virtually identical underpinnings. The two pickups could even be built in the same plant, though it’s too early to know its location.
