- VW unveiled a facelifted version of the original Amarok in Argentina.
- The “new” Amarok updates the 2009 model, retaining the original powertrains.
- The truck features a new front end with modern headlights, grille, and bumper.
Update 8/8: Just one month after the initial teaser, Volkswagen has shared full details of the refreshed Amarok pickup truck.
Volkswagen has given its aging first-generation Amarok pickup a lifeline with a South American-spec refresh. The update breathes new life into the original midsize truck, which debuted in 2009.
The company might label it as the new model, but in reality, it’s merely an extensive facelift of the first generation Amarok, lacking any mechanical innovations. Meanwhile, a true second-generation VW Amarok is already on the roads in markets like Europe and Australia, where it shares its underpinnings with the Ford Ranger.
More: VW Design Boss Shows Amarok-Based SUV Rendering But Don’t Get Your Hopes Up
Visual updates are focused on the redesigned face, adopting fresh styling cues from recent VW models. The modern headlights are incorporated within the new grille alongside a full-width LED bar. The bumper is more sculpted than before, with intakes reminiscent of the smaller VW Saveiro truck.
The profile and tail of the vehicle are retained from the original, a common practice with updates to commercial vehicles and trucks. However, it features new 20-inch alloy wheels and several black accents that enhance its aesthetic. The redesign also altered the truck’s dimensions, extending its length by 96 mm (3.8 inches) to a total of 5,350 mm (210.6 inches).
The new VW Amarok from Argentina (above) is unrelated to the second-gen model sold in overseas markets (below).
Inside, the updates primarily enhance the technology. Buyers will find a new 9-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, fully compatible with modern connectivity features. Additionally, VW has introduced a “Safer Tag” atop the dashboard, which provides acoustic and visual alerts to the driver based on inputs from the upgraded Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS).
Other updates include the addition of two USB charging outlets and redesigned perforated leather seats featuring 14-position “ergoComfort” adjustments.
Four-cylinder and V6 engine options
The powertrain lineup from the previous Amarok is retained, including the entry-level 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel and the flagship 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6. The V6, in its highest specification, delivers 255 hp (190 kW / 258 PS) and 580 Nm (428 lb-ft) of torque. Power is distributed to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission and VW’s 4Motion system.
VW made no updates to the ladder-frame underpinnings or the suspension system of the truck but boasts that it offers the only model in its segment equipped with four-wheel disc brakes.
Production of the 2025 VW Amarok is already underway at the Pacheco Industrial Center in Argentina. Since its launch, Volkswagen has manufactured over 740,000 Amarok units at this facility, with 65 percent of these vehicles being exported to markets beyond Argentina.
