Australia to get Volkswagen Amarok V6 manual

VOLKSWAGEN Australia has confirmed its Amarok V6 range will receive a six-speed manual variant, with the dual-cab’s first cog-swapper due to land in local showrooms this December.

Like the rest of the Amarok V6 range, the Core manual will be powered by a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine capable of generating 165kW (180kW on overboost).

However, unlike the automatic variants, the manual’s torque tops out at 500Nm instead of 550Nm and 580Nm (Ultimate 580). Its claimed 3000kg braked towing capacity also falls 500kg short of its automatic stablemates.

The Amarok V6 Core will be fitted with a low-range transfer case and, like the rest of the Core range, will feature cloth seating, 17-inch alloy wheels and a 6.4-inch touchscreen.

The notion of a manual variant has been floating around for more than a year now, with Volkswagen Australia only recently succumbing to its customers and fan base who have been crying out for one.

“At every off-road, caravan and camping expo and Big Red Bash concert the team and I attend, we speak with current owners and members of the off-roading community who have begged us to bring an Amarok V6 manual to Australia,” said Ryan Davies, Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia.

“It was because of that passion that we were able to mount a case with our head office in Germany to build one and, based on Australia remaining the number one export market in the world for the V6 Amarok, we are finally able to offer this unique, Aussie-spec ‘Rok.”

Expect pricing to sit around the $45K mark.