Volkswagen isn’t a brand most folks in the United States commonly associate with pickups. Shop around for small trucks, and you’ll see only a few older VW models, such as Transporter-based rigs and the Rabbit. They’ve never been a significant part of the automaker’s American lineup, but elsewhere in the world, the automaker has established itself as a major producer of utilitarian vehicles, including trucks.
VW recently staged two major pickup debuts in South America. The compact Tukan truck packs a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder and has a rear leaf-spring suspension setup. The other big premiere is the latest iteration of the Amarok. VW is still keeping the design under wraps ahead of sales beginning in South America in 2027.
A Glimpse Of The Next Volkswagen Amarok
Volkswagen Amarok TeaserVolkswagen
VW says the new Amarok is engineered specifically for the South American market. With terrain as diverse as deserts, rain forests, and tall mountain ranges, the continent offers lots of rugged terrain for a vehicle to conquer. During development, the company put the truck into the hands of potential customers to gain feedback.
The Amarok prototype wears a wrap inspired by South American topography, including nods to Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia, the Amazon rainforest, and the Copacabana promenade. Some of these motifs will carry over to styling Easter eggs on the production model.
“The New Amarok is being developed based on the needs of South American customers, for one of the most demanding environments in the world. The most powerful Amarok in history will combine technology and electrification to the DNA of our engineering and the ruggedness that the region demands.”
– Alexander Seitz, Executive Chairman of Volkswagen South America
VW hasn’t officially outlined the powertrains for the new Amarok yet, except for mentioning electrification. Motor1 Brasil found a local filing indicating the company was preparing a model called the Amarok 800 TSI that would adopt a plug-in hybrid powertrain producing 470 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. There would also likely be less powerful turbodiesel and gasoline-fueled offerings.
The South American midsize truck market is highly competitive, so products must stand out to succeed. The Amarok competes against the Toyota Hilux, the Ford Ranger, and the Chevrolet S10, among other pickups available in the region.
VW began building the Amarok at the Pacheco plant in Argentina in 2010. Since then, the company has made over 800,000 Amaroks at the factory, making it Volkswagen Argentina’s most-produced model in history. The company has exported these trucks to over 100 markets. The automaker will build the new one there too, with the site receiving a $580 million investment in part to retool the plant for the new truck’s assembly.
Volkswagen Trucks In The US
Volkswagen Amarok TeaserVolkswagen
VW is reportedly considering selling a pickup in the United States. “Of course, if the market has that size, you can’t just ignore it,” Dr. Kjell Gruner, president and CEO of Volkswagen America, said during a recent media roundtable interview.
If the project gets a green light, don’t expect VW to simply bring the new Amarok here. One reason for engineering something different is that the long-standing Chicken Tax would require the vehicle to be built in North America to avoid high tariffs – in addition to those already in place.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
It’s fascinating to see how automakers engineer products for different markets. Based on what VW is saying, the new Amarok is nearly ready to tackle the most rugged conditions in South America. Unfortunately, the automaker is still keeping many details about the Amarok secret ahead of its 2027 launch.
Source: Volkswagen, Motor1 Brazil
