Stephen Paul Hardy examines DNA's exciting new VW SUV.
A long time coming, Stephen Paul Hardy finds out that DNA’s latest VW release has most definitely been worth the wait.
It is a popularly held opinion, when talking automotive matters, that the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) pick-up market sector is very much a Stateside led fashion.Yet here we have a popular vehicle that meets the image exactly, and yet never got as far US importation. First presented to the general public in January 2010, the Amarok has now been effectively phased out in most markets that, for Europe, saw the order books close in Spring 2020.
With an output of around 90,000 units annually, the substantive production of Amaroks has been produced at the Volkswagen Group plant in General Pacheco, Argentina, and distributed to the South American, Mexican, Oceanian, South African, Russian, and European markets. Completely Knocked Down (CKD) assembly of the Amarok extended its manufacture as far afield as Ghana. Series production was supplemented by the manufacture of 40,000 Amaroks at Volkswagen’s famous “Nr.2” factory at Hannover for supply into the European and small volume markets from the middle of 2012. Designed as a 4WD SUV pick-up, with hereditary links to the formidable Volkswagen Touareg, to compete with the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi L200, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and Chevrolet Colorado, the Amarok also vied for sales with some of Europe's prestigious SUVs, including those from Mercedes.
Despite being a sales success, several factors have all contributed to the demise of the Amarok. Factors that include the recent Volkswagen-Ford agreements on future shared, common platform, development plans that included a new SUV pick-up based on the Ford Ranger from 2022, the need to make way for electric vehicle production at
Hannover, and the perceived obsolescence of the large V6 VW engine generation in the face of new emissions regulations.
ON THE WOLF TRAIL
With connective connotations to Volkswagen’s home town of Wolfsburg, the Amarok is only the second production model to draw on the wolf as a naming theme. The first was the very successful little Lupo, whilst Amarok (or Amaroq) is a legendary, lone hunter, wolf from Inuit (Eskimo) mythology. I understand that Greenlandic Inuit use the word Amarok exclusively for this legendary wolf, whereas all other Arctic Inuit tongue use it to refer to any wolf. Whereas, in the past,Volkswagen models sold globally have often been subject to name badge changes according to the market they were sold in, “Amarok” has been retained universally.
A review published by Autocar in March 2019 described the Aventura as “Potentially, this is the ultimate Amarok”. Released initially as part of the 2016 facelift,VW further upgraded the specification for the Aventura over and above Volkswagen’s top end standard series Amarok Highline. The Aventura then came back in 2018 as the top line model of the European market Amarok range.
The initial Ventura Edition was offered in, at that stage, special paint finishes of Ravenna Blue or grey, with additional standard equipment including upgraded instrument cluster display, black headlining, ’ergoComfort' front seats with 14-way adjustment, Nappa leather upholstery, leather steering wheel with gearshift paddles, body-coloured rear sports bar, front foglights with cornering function, protective
coating for load area, stainless steel 'nerf' side bars with integrated steps and LED lighting, electric folding, adjustable and heated door mirrors, automatic lights and wiper and 20-inch Talca alloy wheels. Optional were four roof bar-mounted spot lights that had also been part of another Amarok special edition - the Canyon.
IN MODEL FORM
So does DNA Collectibles' Volkswagen Amarok Aventura (DNA000047) pack the punch that we have come to expect from the Switzerland-based firm? And does it have the sheer pulling power to outperform the competition?
Well let's take a check on the authenticity of the model against Volkswagen's own Aventura spec list. It doesn't take long to see that everything that should be represented is there in accurate detail. That rather ‘bling' brightwork of the side step bars is perfect, as are the 20-inch Talca alloy wheels and rear, stepinclusive bumper. The body colour-matched rear sports bar (a sort of pick-up version rear spoiler) is there, complete with highly-detailed “Aventura” badging and the correct cut-out to accommodate the excellent cab-mounted, high-level brake light.
The pick-up bed detailing is eye-catching, both in its immaculate satin black finish and capture of detail. Similarly, the black roof trim inserts, mud flaps and Bpillar trim are just perfect. Whilst looking at that side view, the differential density of glazing tint is really well done - and draws the eye to an interior detail that is quite often missed. This being the passenger grab handles - maybe a small detail in the scheme of things, but one that catches the light and embellishes the profile when viewed from outside. Their inclusion at 1/18 just nudges the overall impression of accuracy a notch or two higher.
As for the interior, in customary DNA Collectibles style it contains so much amazing detail that it needs very good eyesight or close-up photography to be able to fully appreciate it. The effect of the leather faced seat upholstery, for example, being very convincing. The metallic Ravenna Blue paintwork is completely up to usual DNA Collectibles standard - flawless and very attractive. It also makes for a very good contrasting setting for the lighting fittings and badging details. Here I have to make special mention of that optional Volkswagen roof light bar that comes as a demountable feature with the scale model. I just really like the way that DNA Collectibles are adding little optional details like this - first on the Volvo Ocean Race and now here on the Amarok.
The clincher, though, has to be the radiator grille detailing. The mesh is completely amazing and is another aspect of the model that needs a close-up photo, or magnifying glass, to see the depth of detail that has been achieved.
To answer my earlier question “Yes, emphatically, yes” - the model packs the punch and has one hell of a lot of charismatic pulling power - and it certainly was worth the wait.