WORK AND PLAY
AgeingA ute has been given a nip and tuck to make it even more capable off-road
It may be in the twilight of its life but the current Volkswagen Amarok is set to go out with a bang before its replaced next year. The farewell for the brand’s off-road ute is the W580X, a limited edition model with an off-road focus. It will sit alongside the more bitumen-friendly W580 and W580S at the top of the Amarok family tree. Only 600 will be built, each individually numbered.
The new model is modified in Melbourne by the Walkinshaw Group, previously known for turning V8 Holdens into HSVS. It was tested extensively through Australia, including swathes of the outback.
The 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 engine is unchanged from other top-shelf Amaroks, making the same 190kw (or 200kw on overboost) and 580Nm and matched to an eight-speed auto. Instead the focus is on tackling tough terrain, with added design panache thrown in.
The W580X mimics many of the styling updates to the S – wheel arch flares, a fresh grille and front bumper inserts – but replaces street-focused 20-inch wheels with more rugged all-terrain rubber measuring 18 inches in diameter. An LED light bar integrated into the bumper improves high beam performance.
There’s also more serious underbody protection in the form of a 4mm-thick metal bash plate and rock rails down each side. The differentials and transmission get breathers for extended water crossings.
Monroe MTV shock absorbers are tuned for a more punishing life in the W580X.
Decals down each side mimic the chunky tread pattern from the vehicle’s Pirelli Scorpion all-terrain tyres, which are designed to better resist punctures.
Inside, the Walkinshaw logo graces the headrests and rubber floor mats. Black gloss trim complements the exterior treatment.
The front seats are snug and supportive but back-seat leg room is compromised and safety underdone. There are no rear airbags, no blindspot warning and no emergency braking. Blame it on the Amarok’s age – it has been on sale for a decade. The cabin is a reflection of that. The dashboard looks weary and houses a small 6.5-inch screen, although there’s Applecarplay and Android Auto connectivity. The handbrake is an old school hand-operated unit and you twist a key in the ignition. At $78,890 before on-road costs, pricing has increased from what Volkswagen originally announced months ago. A big reduction in capped price servicing costs softens the blow. The Amarok’s core attributes remain solid. It’s long been one of the better utes to drive, delivering impressive composure for a workhorse designed to tow three and a half tonnes and carry heavy loads. More rugged twin-tube dampers make for swift recovery from big hits, while potholes and rocks are efficiently dealt with. There is a firmness to the ride though, so you’ll feel a jolt over sharp bumps and jiggling over corrugations. A few hundred kilos of camping gear over the rear axle should calm things, though.
We didn’t get to sample the extremes of the W580X’S ability – without a dual-range transfer case the Amarok doesn’t have the crawl speed control of rivals – but got a taste of its competence in dealing with rough gravel. Onroad it maintains much of the regular Amarok’s poise, although the steering isn’t as sharp and the off-road focused Pirellis reach their grip limits sooner than those of the W580S.
There’s no shortage of puff from the 3.0-litre V6, some of it heard through the sucking of the optional snorkel. It’s quick to respond to throttle inputs and pulls heartily throughout its rev range. It remains at the pointy end of the ute segment for outright punch.
The lusty engine a highlight, along with the off-road modifications that provide added confidence for the adventurous.
The W580X is more brawn than brains, though. It nails the basics but sidesteps the finer details, such as safety tech and cabin freshness.