Volkswagen Amarok 580X Off-Road Special Edition Revealed

Volkswagen Amarok is one of the company's oldest models, having been introduced in 2010 and not being replaced until next year. Meanwhile, the company's Australian subsidiary has joined up with local engineering firm Walkinshaw once again to build a hefty pickup special edition to follow up on last year's hefty ute special edition.

W580X continues where the W580S left off, with the addition of a suspension raise package for increased ground clearance. Optional features include a snorkel, enhanced twin-tube dampers, and 18-inch forged wheels with all-terrain tires mounted within wider wheel arches. Additional underbody security and an LED light bar have also been fitted by VW and Walkinshaw.

A twin-turbodiesel 3.0-liter V6 engine produces 255 hp (190 kWh) and 580 Newton-meters (428 pound-feet) of torque in the new Amarok W580X. A full-time four-wheel-drive system with an eight-speed automatic gearbox delivers the TDI power to both axles.

The truck is laden with equipment, as one would expect from a high-end customized edition. Amarok W580X features everything you need, from bi-xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights to dual-zone automated climate control. Heated front seats, rubber floor mats, and a tire pressure monitoring system are also included. To spice the bargain, VW and Walkinshaw have added velour upholstery to the interior, as well as black mirrors and a revised front grille to the design.

The all-new Ford Ranger-based truck has already been formally announced to launch next year, so it could very well be the final hurrah for the first-gen Amarok. The Blue Oval will build the car in South Africa, and rumors claim that a performance-oriented variant could be VW's answer to the Ranger Raptor.