Volkswagen Amarok 2023: 12.0-inch touchscreen for next-gen dual cab teased for the first time

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Volkswagen has dropped yet another teaser of its upcoming Amarok dual-cab ute, and this time we have a much clearer idea of what the interior infotainment will look like.

Much like the new Ford Ranger, the co-developed Amarok will also have a large central touchscreen, but it will be uniquely Volkswagen. 

One of the biggest differences between the Ford and Volkswagen touchscreen units is the integration of the climate control into the infotainment in the case of the Volkswagen, while the Ford unit has physical buttons for the same controls in the all-new Ranger.

The Volkswagen Amarok’s touch screen is portrait in orientation and has a diameter of 10.0 to 12.0-inches depending on the model grade. Obviously, the higher the variant, the larger the screen will be. 

In the image revealed by Volkswagen, the screen is large enough to project a music streaming service, navigation and climate controls all at once – an ability that could either be a good thing or a little ‘busy’ depending on your preference. 

In the Ford Ranger, however, there will be several physical toggle switches and knobs to control climate and fan functions along with de-mist functionality. 

What else do we know about the new Amarok?

Similar to the lead up to the reveal of the T6.2 Ford Ranger, Volkswagen has been releasing a drip-feed of teasers ahead of its unveiled in August or September this year.

Most recently, Volkswagen released teaser images of the rear end of the ute and the headlight design, along with a camouflaged development mule that was officially shown off in press pictures. 

What we know so far is the next Volkswagen Amarok will be heavily based on the new Ford Ranger dual-cab ute and will share fundamental mechanical items such as the powertrain, chassis and suspension setup.

Where the two will likely differ is in how the Amarok is set up and also in the interior and exterior styling, with Volkswagen hinting at a more premium-focused ute. 

We have also seen the rear end of the Amarok just recently, which features a really cool embossed AMAROK lettering across the tailgate. It’s the small things like this that could make the Amarok a unique vehicle in the popular dual-cab marketplace. 

The new Amarok will feature a V6 engine like before but this powertrain will likely be shared with the T6.2 Ford Ranger. The Blue Oval’s engine and drivetrain consists of a  184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 mated to a four-wheel drive system and a 10-speed automatic transmission. 

Chasing Cars recently published  a deep dive on this engine and found its history lies in the Ford-branded Power Stroke engine used in the Ford F-150 truck. The engine has also been used in Jaguar and Land Rover products sold in Australia in the past. 

When can I get my hands on a new-generation Volkswagen Amarok?

The Volkswagen Amarok has not been officially revealed just yet, but we expect this to happen in the coming weeks. 

First examples of the new Amarok will arrive in Australia in November or December this year for media and dealer testing, so expect customer orders to commence around the same time and then first deliveries to take place early in 2023.