Volkswagen introduced the new generation Amarok for the Latin American market during the Cattlemen's Festival in Barretos. This pickup is based on the Chinese Maxus Interstellar X model from the SAIC group, which AutoPapo was able to view at the Shanghai exhibition in 2025.
Unlike models such as the Fiat Toro, Ram Rampage, and Ford Maverick, the Amarok lacks a separation between the cabin and cargo bed modules because it has a unitary body. However, unlike intermediate options that use a monolithic body, the Amarok features a frame separated from the body, which is an innovative concept for the Latin American market.
VW stated that the development of the Amarok required significant effort and consumed a substantial part of the company's investment plan of 20 billion reais until 2028. The company has not yet disclosed the technical specifications of the Amarok nor announced what engines will be installed in this model.
It is expected that the Amarok will receive an electrified version. Although it remains unclear whether it will retain the current V6 turbodiesel engine, in March, VW's CEO for South America, Alexander Zeitz, stated that the pickup will have an electrified version with Porsche-level performance. Specialized publications also suggest that this version could exceed 450 horsepower.
Similar to what was done with the Tukan, the brand plans to extend the Amarok's release over several months. Currently, the truck is presented in camouflage covered with material resembling the landscapes of the South American continent. Two-level LED signs with a crossbar spanning the entire front section are visible. A wide C-pillar is also noticeable, which apparently serves as structural reinforcement to support the weight differences between the cargo bed and the cabin.
The Amarok is the oldest mid-size pickup in the lineup, appearing in 2010 when Volkswagen first entered the mid-size pickup market. Since then, the truck has undergone mechanical changes, including engine and transmission replacements. It has also faced issues such as premature wear of the 2.0 turbodiesel engine timing belt and defects in the high-pressure fuel pump of the 3.0 turbodiesel V6 engine.
In 2024, the Amarok underwent a visual modernization to match the style of the rest of the model range. Since its launch, the pickup has produced 800 thousand units at the Pacheco plant in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area.