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Fact Jeke Behind the Wheel
VW raised its game by introducing a new light commercial vehicle version of the Amarok.
Many of you have probably familiar with the pick-up that was introduced on to market several months ago.
The updated version of the Amarok is stylish and fit for the rough work too, which is why I would really want to meet its designer Walter de Silva just to ask him how he managed that.
I have driven several trucks, some of which have shaken my confidence because the handling and suspension on the truck is always so messed up that I shake half the drive but this is not the case with the Amarok.
I was pleasantly surprised that it drives so well. I tell you this is no ordinary truck.
The Amarok range consists of single cab and double cab, combined with either rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and is powered by Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) common rail diesel engines and Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) petrol engine.
The 2.0L (TDI) common rail diesel engines which is taken from the Volkswagen Transporter (T5) has been tuned for more torque but less power.
The entry-level version produces 90kW, which develops a maximum torque of 340Nm from 2 000 revolutions per minute.
The top of the line bi-turbo version produces 120kW which develops a maximum torque of 400 Nm from 1 500rpm.
Fuel consumption in a combined cycle format is as low as 7,6 litre per 100km on the rear wheel drive variant to 8,1 litre per 100km on the 4Motion theoretically giving the Amarok a 1 000km range before filling up for fuel.
The Amarok has three drive concepts rear wheel drive, Shiftable 4Motion and Permanent 4Motion.
The Shiftable all wheel drive system can shift drive between the axles whereas the permanent full time all wheel drive system distributes power through a Torque Sensing (Torsen) differential with a 40:60 ratio between the front and rear axles.
It’s available in base version, Trendline and Highline. The base version comes equipped with 16-inch steel wheels, height-adjustable front seats, variable folding rear bench seats, locking glove box, cargo platform lighting, antenna integrated within wing mirrors, manual window regulators, manual door locking and manual wing mirror adjustment. The front bumper, wing mirrors and door handles come in black.
The Trendline grade has over the base version electrically operated door locking, electric windows and wing mirror adjustment as well as a radio with a CD player, climate control (Climatic), multi-functional display, cruise control, front fog lights, 17-inch aluminium wheels.
Also painted in the body colour are the front bumper, door handles and wing mirrors.
The Highline grade has over the Trendline part chrome mirror housings, chrome strips on radiator grille and around the fog lights, chrome rear bumper bar 18-inch aluminium wheels, automatic climate control (Climatronic), leatherette/leather fabric on the interior.
The pick-up’s active and passive safety systems and convenience features all match up to passenger car levels.
Yet the Amarok is extremely rugged. In both concept and style, the Volkswagen Amarok is clearly influenced by the new Volkswagen Design DNA.
This is reflected in its typical emphasis of horizontal lines, in the well-defined interplay of body surfaces and high precision of its workmanship.
Specifically, one of its most prominent identifying features is the visual unit formed by the horizontal headlights and radiator grille and decorative trim accents.
Extending back from the vehicle’s front face is a surface that develops over the fender contour to the side windows and encloses them in an arch.
The cleanly sculpted curvatures of the pick-up’s side body panels and engine hood give the Amarok the typical rugged look of a pick-up.
At the rear, the prominent Volkswagen logo catches the eye on the tailgate whose smooth surface still embodies a high level of excitement.
It is framed by the pick-up’s tail-lights whose distinctive signature is their characteristic night design.
The truck’s exceptional interior dimensions make it the most spacious in its class.
The vehicle’s finely tuned bioengineering is typical of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and the Amarok.
Easy entry, a generous seating layout and lots of headroom characterise the workspace behind the wheel.
Ample legroom on the rear bench also makes the Amarok a full-fledged five-seater.
When there are only two people riding in it, the rear seat folds to increase interior cargo space.
The truck bed of the Volkswagen Amarok Double Cab serves up the largest dimensions in its class as well.
It is 1 555 millimetres long by 1 620 millimetres wide, yielding an impressive truck bed area of 2,52 square meters.
It is easy to transport sports equipment and bulky machinery, thanks to its large dimensions, load sill height of 780 millimetres and payload capacity of up to 1,15 metric tonnes.
Four tie-down eyes at the corners of the truck bed protect cargo during the drive.
When pulling a trailer, the pickup can handle up to 2,8 metric tonnes of trailer load.
In addition this vehicle was endorsed by a celebrity, the founder of Germany-based heavy metal band the Scorpions, guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who drove it during the 2010 Dakar Rally .
During that particular rally, which attracted 45 vehicles, the Amarok was a key support vehicle.
What more can you ask for . . . you can drive it away for just under US$45 000.
Staff at the FCM along Samora Machel Avenue will furnish you with all the details from test-drives to finance options.
Till next week . . . keep pumping it.
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Online Reporter