• A Walkinshaw-tuned Amarok is under development and will arrive in early 2025.
  • The successor of the Amarok W-Series will feature GT-focused modifications.
  • A more powerful four-cylinder engine could be used instead of the original V6.

Volkswagen has confirmed that a new version of the Amarok pickup, developed in partnership with local tuner Walkinshaw Performance, will expand its Australian lineup. Set to succeed the outgoing Amarok W-Series, this new variant will reportedly be a GT-style performance offering and is expected to be unveiled in early 2025.

Ryan Davies, director of Commercial Vehicles at Volkswagen Group Australia, shared the news with local media: “We’ve been working with the Walkinshaw team for about a year now and we’re in the final stages of evaluating the project.”

More: 2025 VW Amarok For South America Is A New Take On A 15-Year Old Truck

As reported by CarsGuide, the the high-ranking official elaborated further, stating, “We aim to have news on the new Walkinshaw Amarok early next year”.

In the meantime, VW recently rolled out the Amarok 10 Deserts Edition for the Australian market. This variant is equipped with lifted suspension, underbody protection, and aggressive tires, with a selection of off-road accessories on offer. While it might seem logical to expect another rugged trim with enhanced performance, the Walkinshaw Amarok is set to carve out a different niche entirely.

VW Amarok W580S
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw

Australian outlet CarExpert reports that the Walkinshaw-tuned Amarok will be a GT truck, similar to the previous VW Amarok W580S rather than the off-road-focused W580X. According to Davis, the former proved to be a “hugely successful car for the Volkswagen brand and the Amarok product”, prompting the company to approve a successor.

More: Ford’s New Widebody Ranger MS-RT Is Hottest Looking Yet

“There are lots of different off-road variants from other competitors, and we feel that the skill set at Walkinshaw, coupled with the performance of the Amarok, is really the sweet spot for the second iteration of the Walkinshaw Amarok variant,” VW Group’s local Commercial Vehicles boss added.

Indeed, the Australian midsize truck market is flooded with rugged offerings like the Ford Ranger Raptor, Toyota Hilux GR Sport, Nissan Navara Warrior, and even Walkinshaw’s own Isuzu D-Max Blade.

GT-Style Upgrades

Following the example of its predecessor, a new W-Series truck will likely feature a new set of alloy wheels, a revised suspension setup, sporty visual cues, and a set of decals. Performance upgrades might also be on the table to bolster the truck’s aggressive stance.

The previous generation Amarok W-Series, equipped with a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel, delivered 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS) and up to 680 Nm (501.5 lb-ft) of torque when tuned by Walkinshaw. In contrast, the next-generation Amarok features a Ford-sourced 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel, offering 247 hp (184 kW / 250 PS) and 600 Nm (442.5 lb-ft) of torque as standard.

More: Isuzu D-Max Blade Is A Rugged Take On The Pickup, Reserved For Australia

While a V6 may seem like the obvious choice for a performance upgrade, Davies hinted that Walkinshaw might opt for something more unconventional. He suggested that a more potent version of the turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine could find its way under the hood. This engine, in its stock form, delivers 298 hp (222 kW / 302 PS) and 452 Nm (333 lb-ft), and has already demonstrated impressive tuning potential.

All of our questions will be answered in early 2025, when VW Australia is expected to reveal the Walkinshaw-tuned truck. Like previous special-edition W-Series trucks, this model is likely to be exclusive to the Australian market.

VW Amarok
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw
New VW Amarok To Gain A GT Performance Variant From Walkinshaw