While Volkswagen is getting ready to retire the Amarok, replacing it with an all-new generation sharing bones with the upcoming Ford Ranger, Australians will get another special edition of the German pickup, locally developed by Melbourne-based Walkinshaw Performance: the Amarok W580X, an off-road-focused version of the W580 and W580S variants that are already on sale Down Under.
Under the bonnet, there is the good-old turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 diesel producing the same 255 hp (190 kW / 258 PS) and 580 Nm (428 lb-ft) of torque, sending power to all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. What is novel to this Amarok is the new suspension with MTV twin-tube dampers and a front lift, which in combination with the all-terrain tires make it even more capable off the beaten track.
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The 580X gets the same bonnet protector, black stripes, side graphics, 18-inch forged alloy wheels, and bumper inserts as the road-focused 580. However, it can be easily distinguished by the underbody protection by Seikel, the LED light bar at the front, the AT tires, and the optional snorkel.
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Standard equipment includes rubber mats, heated seats upholstered in velour with Walkinshaw branding, multi-function steering wheel with gearshift paddles, dual-zone climate control, tire-pressure monitoring, Bi-xenon headlights, and LED fog lamps.
The Amarok W580X will rival the likes of the Ford Ranger Raptor, the locally tuned Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior, and the Toyota HiLux Rugged X. Volkswagen Australia will announce pricing closer to the pickup truck’s launch, which is scheduled for April 2022.
VW Amarok W580 by Walkinshaw pictured
H/T to CarExpert