Volkswagen releases sketches of new Amarok pick-up

Volkswagen has published a collection of sketches depicting its new Amarok pick-up truck. The model is “near-production”, so changes made after this point will likely be minimal. It has been developed by teams in Australia and Europe and will be made in South Africa.

With the exception of some wildly flaring wheel arches, it is clear that the sketches show a model that is close to being production-ready – every other element of the pick-up is familiar and traditional. There are no obtuse, Cybertruck-esque styling choices or advanced technology additions. Instead, VW has simply made a few changes over the old Amarok.

This new model is ten centimetres longer, measuring in at 5.35 metres. It will also be wider, although exact details are yet to be disclosed. It’s difficult to see from the sketches, but VW says there will be more room inside the cabin, particularly in the second row.

The front mask features a new grille with embedded headlamps. A narrow chrome strip underlines the lights and upper section of the grille, while larger chrome bars sit lower down and act as a partition before an air intake and the bumper. A square and sculpted bonnet looms above, and chunky body work covering the front wheels extends to surround the large fog lamps. It is a bold and aggressive front design without being particularly radical, similar to the Atlas Tanoak concept that was first shown at the 2018 New York Motor Show.

The rear is kept neat and tidy, with horizontal elements emphasising the pick-ups width. C-shaped lights are connected by clean lines in the body work that run the width of the tailgate, and a bulky bumper with a wide step allows for easy accessibility to the bed. It is a far cleaner and more confident design when compared to the rear of the old Amarok.

“We emphasise the different, expressive front designs of our pick-up with a charismatic Amarok signature that is also found with very large letters on the cargo box at the rear and is sported very proudly by the Amarok,” said Albert-Johann Kirzinger, head of design at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. “The styling bar as a visual extension of the double cab in the cargo box once again gives the Amarok’s body dynamic, aerodynamic and very strong proportions.”

VW has also published two sketches of the interior. A single horizontal line tops the IP and is decorated by stitching, which suggests a leather finish. Large air vents flank the portrait touchscreen, with a line of buttons below that likely control climate settings. A shelf above the passenger footwell has room to hold a pair of binoculars, and the door bins are shown to hold walkie-talkies. The centre console is kept narrow to maximise room for the front occupants, and includes the gear shifter, a rotary dial, electronic parking brake, a small collection of buttons and two cup holders.

The seats look to be padded and are finished in a three-tone colour scheme – light grey, dark grey and brown. The brown also features on the door armrests and the gear shifter, adding a continuity to the trim. It is a vast improvement over the previous Amarok, which was let down by a very cluttered interior full of hard plastics. Although we are yet to see images of the real deal, with the new Amarok, Volkswagen isn’t trying to create a ground-breaking pick-up with zero emissions and enhanced functionality. Instead, a sharper and more concise design will bring life to the model.