Volkswagen is preparing a serious surprise for the South American market by planning a completely new generation of the Amarok pickup truck for the region. The debut of the model is scheduled for 2027, and its production will take place at the Argentine plant "General Pacheco". This decision is part of a large investment project worth 580 million US dollars, which was agreed between Volkswagen AG and the Argentine government. One of the key news from the agreement is that the new Amarok will have a hybrid powertrain.
Unlike the current Amarok, which is developed on the Ford Ranger platform and is available with traditional diesel engines, the South American version will have a completely different origin. It will be based on the frame chassis of the Chinese Maxus Interstellar X pickup truck, manufactured by SAIC. This collaboration will allow the German brand to significantly reduce development costs. Although the basic proportions and body panels will be similar to the Chinese model, Volkswagen emphasizes that the front of the car will have its own design, which will be in harmony with the brand's corporate style.
The dimensions of the new Amarok are expected to be almost identical to those of the Chinese "donor", with a length of about 5500 mm and a wheelbase of approximately 3300 mm. The interior is also likely to inherit some solutions from the Maxus, but Volkswagen will adapt the materials and infotainment system to its own standards. The hybrid system is designed to meet local environmental requirements, while maintaining the high load capacity and cross-country ability for which Amarok pickups are famous in the region.