WITH all the political

turmoil and excitement of this week , you may feel like a well-earned pick-me-up. Or maybe a tough new pick-up. Step forward the next generation of the rugged rufty-tufty Volkswagen Amarok, pictured.

Designed and conceived in Germany and Australia, it is being built in South Africa

and was developed in co-operation with Ford, making it a close sibling of the rival Ford Ranger.

It will be launched in the UK initially as a four- door double- cab in five specifications — a basic version along with Life, Style, Aventura (for on-road focus) and Panamericana (for off-road)

— followed by the more utilitarian twodoor single-cab. The newcomer is powered by up to five turbocharged engines, including a 250 hp 3-litre turbocharged V6 diesel and a 302 hp

2.3-litre turbocharged petrol unit.