New Volkswagen Amarok 2022 is presented

The popular Volkswagen Amarok pickup will return for a second generation with improved technology and a new look

The commercial vehicle department at Volkswagen released more details and sketches of the next generation Amarok ahead of the pickup's debut next year. It will be available to order from the end of 2022 in Europe.

The model will share its platform with the next generation Ford Ranger as one of the key vehicles to emerge from a technical collaboration between VW and Ford. VW also confirmed that the new model will be built in South Africa, along with continuing production in Argentina.

The model will be exported globally from these two locations, while the previous model was also built in Hannover for European customers.

The sketches show Amarok engaged in wildlife conservation activities in South Africa, a role the previous model played as part of VW's partnership with the Wilderness Foundation Africa. They show that the pick-up has evolved in design, although it is still recognizable as an Amarok.

The sketches also give a glimpse into the pickup's interior, revealing a completely new dashboard design with the latest VW steering wheel and the brand's 'Virtual Cockpit' digital instruments.

A new central infotainment system, and it looks like the brand will keep some physical switches, unlike some of its recent models.

VW describes its rival Ford Ranger as having "a completely new look inside and out" and "even more extensive on-board equipment", including "significantly more driver assistance systems" and new connectivity features. The company claims that it will still bring “innovations never seen before in this segment”.

Technical details on the new Amarok are still scarce, but VW lists the V6 diesel engine as a feature, making the model unique in its segment.

Volkswagen's chairman of the Board of Management, Carsten Intra, said: “It won't just be a fantastic pickup truck; it will be a genuine Volkswagen – with clear DNA in technology and design. ”

Volkswagen and Ford confirmed plans to collaborate on engineering commercial vehicles and pickup trucks last summer, as part of a major partnership between the auto giants across a range of aspects of their businesses.

“Volkswagen has taken a major strategic step in establishing its cooperation with Ford. Amarok’s successor will be one of the first fruits of this collaboration,” Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess said last year.

At the time, the company revealed that its first jointly developed pickups would be released in 2022, with a new Ford Ranger based on the same platform.

The two brands also announced a billion-pound investment in autonomous drive technology start-up Argo AI, while from 2023, Ford will produce electric vehicles on the Volkswagen Group's MEB platform.

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