DRIVETRAIN

Another welcome addition to the Amarok’s interior is the presence of a drive-mode selector; for the first time, this includes a low-range setting. While the outgoing model used its permanent all-wheel-drive (4Motion) drivetrain arrangement and short first-gear ratio to offer impressive prowess over tough terrain, the new car gains more traditional off-road driving apparatus via its Ranger connection. This includes a choice of model-dependent drivemode configurations, from selectable 4H to an intuitive, constant AWD set-up.

Considering the relative success of its more powerful double cabs, it’s no surprise to learn that one of the requests from Wolfsburg at the outset of this alliance was the inclusion of V6 powertrains. While the 190-kw turbodiesel unit that made the outgoing model such a menacing traffic-light-dash prospect is no longer viable, Ford’s new 184 kw/600 N.m, 3,0-litre V6 unit is a laudable replacement. As in its Ranger and Everest applications – mated with the American brand’s 10-speed automatic transmission – progress is refined, confident and steady, if not quite as punchy as in the outgoing top-of-the-range VW double cab.

Navigating the Cape Town-based international launch route, the average fuel consumption was 10,5 L/100 km in a V6-powered derivative.

As the double-cab that convinced the market it was okay to adopt a 2,0-litre turbodiesel engine, the broader range of new Amaroks in South Africa will combine Ford’s 1 996 cm3 bi-turbo diesel engine and 10-speed automatic transmission.