VW names new pick-up

Date: Friday, June 5, 2009

Volkswagen’s all-new one tonne pick-up, first seen in double cab concept form at last year’s Hanover Commercial Vehicle Show, and due to go on sale in the UK next year is to be called the Amarok. It means ‘wolf’ in the Inuit (Eskimo) language.

 

“This name fits the characteristics of our pick-up perfectly, which will set new standards in its class,” said Stephan Schaller, CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. “We took great care selecting this name, which can be used globally and is meant to invoke positive associations in all relevant international markets. The Amarok is a powerful and robust vehicle with great stamina, just like the wolf,” he continued.


The turbodiesel-powered Amarok will be built at VW’s Pacheco plant near Buenos Aires in Argentina at the rate of 100,000 per year and will be available as a 4x4 double cab initially with single cab variants joining the line-up at a later date.


It will be launched first in South America in early 2010, followed by Central America in Spring 2010, then Russia and Europe in the summer, along with Africa and Australia. Prices, specifications and on-sale dates for the UK will be announced next year.


The Amarok will be VW’s first contender in the one tonne pick-up market since the demise of the Taro in 1996. The result of a deal with Toyota, Taro was basically a rebadged Hilux and was built in Hanover.



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