2023 Ford Ranger Raptor off limits to Volkswagen Amarok

There will not be a Volkswagen Amarok version of the new-generation Ford Ranger Raptor, says Ford.

The new Volkswagen Amarok will not adopt a version of the new-generation Ford Ranger Raptor – even though the rest of their ute ranges will be twins under the skin after a landmark model-sharing deal – after Ford drew a line in the sand and made its hero performance pick-up a no-go zone.

However, Volkswagen Australia may develop its own diesel-powered ‘super ute’ with Walkinshaw Automotive Group following the success of the current Amarok W 580 Series.

The global chief engineer for the new Ford Ranger, Ian Foston, told Drive at a media preview this week the twin turbo V6 petrol-powered Ford Ranger Raptor – a vehicle like no other in the segment – is not part of the model-sharing deal.

“The deal (with the Volkswagen Amarok) was for a mid-size pick-up program. The new Amarok is a fully-differentiated sibling vehicle, however the arrangement is for the core models.

“Raptor for us is considered a separate sub-segment, and it’s not included in the sharing deal.”

That means if Volkswagen wants to compete in the ‘super ute’ segment pioneered by the Ford Ranger Raptor, the company will need to develop one of its own.

One possibility is for Volkswagen Australia to renew the partnership with the Walkinshaw Automotive Group – the former parent company of Holden Special Vehicles, and which converts Ram and Chevrolet pick-up from left- to right-hand-drive to factory standards.

Volkswagen Australia partnered with the Walkinshaw Automotive Group to develop special editions of the current generation Amarok for its final two years in the market.

Last year, Volkswagen launched the W580S – an on-road focused performance Amarok – and next month it is due to launch the W580X, an off-road focused performance Amarok.

“Given the runaway success of the current W580 series and the anticipated take-up of the pending off-road focussed W580X, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is open to further collaborations,” said Volkswagen Australia spokesman Paul Pottinger.

“As initial allocations of W Series Amarok vehicles sold out within minutes of being made available online, an ongoing collaboration would be desirable.”

Volkswagen Australia said it was too early to disclose what a high-performance version of the Ford Ranger-based next-generation Volkswagen Amarok might look like, and what engine might power it.

However, Drive believes it will likely be powered by the V6 diesel from the new Ford Ranger (and which will be available in top-end Amarok models).

This means diesel fans who don’t want a new Ford Ranger Raptor – because, for the time being at least, it is only available with twin turbo V6 petrol power in Australia – might have the option of a V6 diesel-powered Volkswagen Amarok ‘super ute’.

There will likely be a wait, however. The new-generation Volkswagen Amarok is due in Australian showrooms from early next year, however a Walkinshaw-based vehicle would likely follow 12 to 18 months from then – if not longer – due to the time taken to engineer and tool-up for the changes.

The post 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor off limits to Volkswagen Amarok appeared first on Drive.

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