Volkswagen’s Amarok wins International Pick-up Award

volkswagen amarok 1

It might still only be available in selected markets, but Volkswagen’s Amarok is certainly going places, winning new friends and influencing people. It has, as its type suggests, picked up the inaugural International Pick-up Award 2011. The award was judged by a panel from 23 countries, the same that elects the International Van of the Year awards winners.

During the judging process, the Amarok was praised by the jury for its ‘effortless off-road abilities’, while its capacity on-road was judged to be the best against all other competitors.

volkswagen amarok 2

The jury also thought the vehicle’s interior to be pretty impressive, noting with kudos the layout and generous space for both front and rear passengers in the double-cab cabin.

Summing up, the jury had plenty of positives for the vehicle. ‘The new Volkswagen Amarok distinguishes itself by fantastic driving qualities, both on- and off-road. It sets new standards in the pick-up category in respect to load capacity, payload, interior room, comfort, ergonomics and fuel consumption.’ High praise, indeed.

VW recently stated that the Amarok – which is currently only being assembled in Argentina, with production in Hannover for European markets being mulled – could help the group make its way into Thailand and allow the company to gain a foothold in South-East Asian markets, though that may yet be a little ways away. One can’t also discount the possibility that the pick-up may figure favourably in certain plans locally, though that’s just speculation.

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • mohsin on Oct 13, 2010 at 10:07 am

    VW, das Auto

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  • Bring this babe into Malaysia. Sure sell well especially in Sabah & Sarawak

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    • Chris on Oct 13, 2010 at 7:29 pm

      Yeah, 2 liter diesel right? Going to be dirt cheap roadtax here

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    • DICKYBIRD on Oct 13, 2010 at 7:58 pm

      with all the road works in klang valley now, it would sell well too here!

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  • Leseid Obrut on Oct 13, 2010 at 10:22 am

    well even if it does make its way to our shores i bet the price would be ridiculous as with any other VWs in malaysia…unless they build a factory in this region…

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  • zimba on Oct 13, 2010 at 10:38 am

    ‘The new Volkswagen Amarok distinguishes itself by fantastic driving qualities, both on- and off-road. It sets new standards in the pick-up category in respect to load capacity, payload, interior room, comfort, ergonomics and fuel consumption.’ High praise, indeed.

    Paul Tan.. Why there isnt’ any pic after the jump? huhu~ Next post?

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  • Slum In Bolehland on Oct 13, 2010 at 10:46 am

    pls2 bring it here so we do have alot of choice to choose and put the price at least reasonable with hilux….

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    • toyoot on Oct 13, 2010 at 5:26 pm

      I think the answer from VW is NO! becoz Msian T fan will say,, other brand than T & H,, no resale value….

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  • Jimmy on Oct 13, 2010 at 10:47 am

    YES, this is the time that I will choose VW over Toyota in Malaysia (in other countries I don’t know, probably not an issue in Europe) provided that the price is below RM130k.
    This one can have a margin of RM20k over Hilux 3.0 and I will still think worth, even though it is not handled by UMW (but no NAZA please).
    Passat and others are well too much higher than its rivals (Sedans and SUV taxes are heavier than Amarok).
    Yes, go for Amarok.

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  • littlefire on Oct 13, 2010 at 11:06 am

    In the end, is not a Japanese pick-up that win the award but VW!!! If not mistaken the body of this is taken from Toyota Hilux?!? But still the most awarding of it i think is the engine output, if not mistaken only using 2.0TDI but have massive output!!

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  • It looks uncannily like the new Ford Ranger. Hmm wonder whether they collaborated in this project. Riding on the theme of “Built Tough”…

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  • googlings on Oct 13, 2010 at 11:27 am

    ***** bravo to VW *****
    We want Amarok available in Asean.
    we are tired of japs pickup ala toyoda hi-lat & etc…

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  • Peter on Oct 13, 2010 at 11:35 am

    Amarok sounds like Amour-Rock……

    Yea, name sounds nice and very “strong”…

    Very good name for Off road vehicle….

    While as for specs….

    No nid to say….

    Can say its one of the better ones out there…….

    But in terms of pricing, definitely….

    One of the MOST EXPENSIVE 4WD truck in the market….

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  • Black Dog on Oct 13, 2010 at 11:50 am

    Paul, do they also judge on the price? I’m not sure how price competitive is the Amarok but you can built a fantastic vehicle and win awards but if the price is out of range for the average buyer…unless it’s catering for the higher end truck market.

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  • mitlanevo on Oct 13, 2010 at 12:01 pm

    YEAH!!! beat up the silly Hailat and sissy Tigaton…

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  • Annthony lim on Oct 13, 2010 at 12:08 pm

    I would prefer a BMW pick-up truck, the coming soon 9 series.

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  • gracke on Oct 13, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    The off-road drivers really can rock and roll with this Volks Amarok!

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  • When this truck is coming to malaysian market……………….

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  • Hairul Nizam on Oct 13, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    hopefully, this model can be assembled in VW-DRB Hicom plant in Pekan, as currently they’re quite adept in assembling the pickup truck – isuzu, fuso, and other trucks there.

    Malaysia is slowly but surely following Thailand trend of buying pickup truck for personal use. (look at the top 10 car list – 2 of them are pick up truck. – toyota and Isuzu )

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    • frossonice on Oct 13, 2010 at 5:50 pm

      Agree. This fits the bill that VW will build cars that is not yet on sale in Malaysia. So Amarok do have a pretty much clear chance to be one of them.

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  • downs on Oct 13, 2010 at 1:12 pm

    This would make a fine addition to our growing demand for lifestyle pick-ups, if it ever gets brought into our market. Also ager to see the Mazda Fighter’s appearance in Australia.

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  • Handsome*dude on Oct 13, 2010 at 4:53 pm

    amarok~~ alamak!!~~ wat a good car!

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  • paparazi on Oct 13, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    sorry guys, nothing related to this.
    There was a terrible bus, van & cars accident at Nouth South Highway few days back, i’m here to ask G to take this very very very serious, pls do stop their bus business license immediately! Don ever allow them to give so much of excuse!!!
    ( i’m a victim of bus accident few years ago, seriously broke my nose)

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    • gucci lady on Oct 13, 2010 at 11:40 pm

      They should BAN highway long distance travel altogether !! long distance must use the right machine, we called it an aeroplane!!

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  • zanggief on Oct 14, 2010 at 8:42 am

    i agree with u guys. VW should bring in this model and fight with the japanese rivals. This model can easily be the champ in terms of the spec. and very useful for east malaysia environment. However, the original engine may need some finetuning to suit to our lower grade fuel.
    Once again, the P1 miss the chance to form partnership with VW. If this happens then we may see ‘P1 Musang’ to be re-engineered here :-)

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  • FAReast on Oct 14, 2010 at 12:41 pm

    which is better? navara or this amarok?

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  • west meets east on Nov 20, 2010 at 7:20 pm

    this amarok is not slated in ASEAN except vw malaysia or garuda matraman motor (vw indonesia) make the ckds.

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  • Ben Wong on Aug 15, 2011 at 6:20 pm

    For too long Toyota, Isuzu, Ford, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Nissan have it easy and offers very low spec pickups for the Malaysian market with no safety features at all. That is what turned me off from buying pickups. The arrival of the VW Amarok will give a big shakeup to the pickup segment if it offers all the safety features and trimmings. That is however dependent on the price. If the government tax it to Kingdom come then there is no hope. If the price of the VW Amarok is around RM130,000 full specs then I am first in line for one.

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