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First Drive: Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate
Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 | Author: James Dallas
Following the Amarok Edition, the Canyon and the Dark Label VW has now launched the Amarok Ultimate, a UK exclusive edition limited to 500 vehicles.
In keeping with the range as a whole, the Ultimate only comes in double cab guise and delivers a level of luxury that would not be out of place in a premium SUV passenger car.
As is VW’s wont, the Ultimate’s styling both inside and out is understated and sophisticated. The model is only available in two colours silver and black, we drove a version in black, and is distinguished by the ‘Ultimate’ decal fairly discreetly positioned on the front doors.
The exterior gets bi-xenon headlights, 19–inch Aragonit polished alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers and double chrome strips on the radiator grille. Available for the first time on an Amarok are LED daytime running lights framing the headlights. The electrically foldable, heated and adjustable door mirrors feature chrome detailing and the rear gets darkened tail light lenses and an LED number plate light.
Comfort and convenience are enhanced by automatic air-conditioning, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, sat-nav, rear privacy glass, heated front seats with storage drawers underneath them and a leather trimmed multi-function steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake handle. Front and rear seats are tastefully covered in grey suede upholstery, which blends in with the dark grey plastic of the dashboard.
We drove the Ultimate with the consummately smooth eight-speed automatic transmission coupled to permanent 4Motion four-wheel drive. This allowed us to enjoy the alloy foot pedal covers that do not come with the six-speed manual derivative.
The auto transmission can be put into manual mode by nudging the switch lever to the right but the automatic system is so seamlessly responsive that we found this option to be redundant.
Verdict
The superb eight-speed automatic is the iving on the cake for this high class, high price pick-up.
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