|
|
|
|
15/06/2009
By EWAN KENNEDY
|
|
|
Visitors to Europe from Australia are often surprised at how few utes and pickups are on the roads over there. While there are ‘white vans’ by the tens of thousands, the utility is a rare beast. That's probably because of the crook weather in that region, but also may be due to the fact that loads in utes aren’t as well protected against theft as they are in vans. Not that we are accusing our friends from those countries of being dishonest.
 Visitors to the 2009 Melbourne Motor Show were obviously fascinated by a concept one-tonne ute/pickup displayed there by Volkswagen. That German giant is going great guns in Australia, but is well aware of the lack of a ute in its lineup. Transporters (which is what they call VE Kombis these days) are offered in ute bodies, but these aren’t quite what Aussie buyers are looking for.
Hence the showing of the concept ute in Melbourne to what turned out to be many very interested potential buyers. It should be pointed out at this stage that the concept had huge tyres and other dress up items that are unlikely to be practical on a real, as opposed to concept, vehicle.
That concept was an early edition of a vehicle that's soon to be introduced in South America. That's because the new Volkswagen ute is aimed at the thriving market on that continent. The Volkswagen Amarok is to be built in a VW factory near Buenos Aries in Argentina. Over there they apparently love their utes just as much as do we Aussies.
 We are told that Amarok means ‘wolf’ in the Inuit (formerly known as Eskimo) language and the wolf is regarded as being the king of the hostile wilderness in the north of Canada.
As befits an all-new entrant to the ute/pickup market segment the Amarok is a clean-sheet design, though, presumably it will draw on Volkswagen's vast array of engines and transmissions for its powertrains.
The first Volkswagen Amarok will go on sale in South and Central America early in 2010. Initially it will be sold as a double-cab ute with a 4WD configuration. Single-cabs will follow as will, presumably, 2WD variants.
Obviously, the Amarok is being eagerly eyed by the Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) people. The VW marque already has a reputation for building tough vehicles and the Amarok sounds like just the sort of vehicles Australians are looking for, both from a commercial and dress-up point of view.
 It's too early for VGA to talk about exact dates of introduction to Australia, but we will keep in touch with them and bring news to you as soon as any announcements are made. |
|
|
|
|
|
Print Article
Submit Feedback
Email This Article
