GWM TO MARKET HAVAL BRAND IN SA
Volkswagen gives the go-ahead for a more powerful bakkie motor after SA market’s initial resistance to 2-litre turbo
VOLKSWAGEN released the first details and pictures of its facelifted Amarok at the beginning of May, but that first stage of its reveal didn’t quite satisfy our curiosity.
Now VW has revealed pictures of the interior, while also going into more detail on its features and releasing performance figures for the much-anticipated new V6 turbodiesel engine.
VW previously revealed that the new 3-litre V6 TDI will be offered in three output levels – 120kW, 150kW and 165kW – with the most powerful of those also producing 550Nm of torque. The company is now bragging that the top version is capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in just 7.9 seconds and of topping out at 193km/h, meaning you’ll have to find another excuse for being late for the local dance.
At least your date for the night will be impressed by the completely redesigned interior that sees the previous scratchy-plastic extravaganza make way for a muchsmarter-looking dashboard with a more horizontal design and far classier finishes.
Also new are VW’s ‘ergoComfort’ seats which VW says have already won a seal of approval by the Healthy Back Campaign. The chairs boast 14-way adjustment and are finished in nappa leather with contrasting Ceramique stitching.
The upgraded Amarok also gains the latest in infotainment technology, with features like App Connect, Guide & Inform or Car-Net allowing seamless smartphone app integration. Finally, those opting for a model with VW’s eight-speed automatic transmission can now specify steering-wheel-mounted flappy paddles for the first time.
The V6 Amarok has not yet been confirmed for introduction in South Africa.
– www.motoring.co.za