South Africa next? Volkswagen Amarok drops 2.0-litre Down Under

Volkswagen Australia has completely removed the 2.0-litre Panther turbodiesel engine from the Amarok range. Picture: Volkswagen Australia Volkswagen has started its clampdown of alliance partner Ford’s 2.0-litre Panther turbodiesel engine in the Amarok by removing it entirely in Australia. Last year, the Blue Oval confirmed the end of the bi-turbo unit of the same engine in both the Ranger and Everest by 2026.

While the single-turbo unit prevails, the bi-turbo will make way for the 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol already in use in the Amarok. As part of the introduction of the Dark Label trim, the Aussie-spec Amarok loses the 2.0-litre in both configurations, as well as the six-speed automatic gearbox. This leaves the222 kW EcoBoost petroland the 3.0-litre Lion turbodiesel V6 as the only options now available.

Unlike theprevious Amarok, still sold and madein South America, the Ford-based model is produced solely in South Africa by the Blue Oval at its Silverton plant outside Pretoria. Locally, Volkswagen South Africa has not confirmed the same engine revisions as the Ranger, which is still to be implemented. Aside from the the bi-turbo, the Ranger will also take leave of the six-speed automatic ‘box, though, the six-speed manual on the base XL remains.

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At the same time, the 2.3 EcoBoost will only be available with rear-wheel drive whereas on the Amarok, all-wheel drive is standard. The expansion of the Lion turbodiesel V6 will see it come with all-wheel drive as standard as the effective replacement for the four-wheel drive bi-turbodiesel.

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