Volkswagen Amarok four-cylinder safe
More V6 models coming, but Volkswagen Amarok ute’s 2.0-litre definitely continues onWhile Volkswagen is expanding its V6 turbo-diesel Amarok line-up, the company has moved to quell auto industry rumours that it will kill off the four-cylinder version.
As exclusively reported by motoring.com.au earlier this month, a new Mercedes-Benz X-Class V6-beating 190kW/580Nm Euro 6-compliant version of Amarok’s 3.0-litre V6 is coming to Australia by September, but will initially only be offered in the top-spec Ultimate.
It will later be available in cheaper Highline guise, while the current lower output EU5-compliant 165kW/550Nm version of the V6 will sell alongside it for some time.
But the V6 expansion will not mean the four-cylinder biturbo 2.0-litre will get the heave-ho, something that’s been tipped for some time.
“I have heard that story but I just can’t see that it makes any sense,” said Volkswagen Australia’s corporate communications manager Paul Pottinger. “There will be greater availability of V6 but I can’t see four-cylinder being supplanted.
“The four-cylinder will remain online.”
The four-cylinder Amarok is offered as a 4x2 and as 4x4 Core and Core Plus dual-cab. As a 4x2 it makes 132kW and 420Nm and as a 4x4 132kW and 400Nm or 420Nm. Pricing ranges from $38,490 to $47,990 plus on-road costs.
Three versions of the EU5 V6 are currently offered; Sportline, Highline and Ultimate. All of them are 4x4, with pricing ranging from $55,990 to $68,490 plus on-road costs.
It had been suggested the four-cylinder would go because the V6 was eating up most Amarok sales – topping 70 per cent in some months last year -- but Pottinger rejected that.
“The four-cylinder is a significant part of our volume. It’s very popular with councils and things like that,” he said.
The stigma of the dieselgate emissions cheating had also been touted as a reason the four-cylinder being dropped. Nearly 8700 Amaroks powered by the EA189 engine involved in that scandal were recalled in 2016 for a software fix.
“An early version [of that engine was recalled], but it’s moved on. The second generation [EA189 engine with software update] has been in the Amarok for ages,” he said.
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