Rugged next Volkswagen Amarok W-Series tipped for South Africa

Former Holden tuner Walkinshaw Automotive has hinted at a possible entry into the South African market next year with its second generation W-Series based on the Volkswagen Amarok.

NOT a Raptor rival

A runaway success Down Under since debuting five years ago modelled on the original Amarok, the W-Series mainly adds a number of cosmetic and interior tweaks without any mechanical alternations underneath its bonnet.

Not offered since the second generation Amarok’s world debut three years ago, a newly released teaser image by both Walkinshaw and Volkswagen Commercials confirmed an early 2026 date of arrival supposedly using the PanAmericana grade as a base with power set to come from the Ford-sourced 3.0-litre Lion turbodiesel V6 engine

ALSO READ: VW Amarok pips V6 Ford Ranger to sibling rivalry bragging rights

While not expected to receive more power and torque than the “standard” Amarok’s 184kW/600Nm, carsales.com.au reports that underbody changes will continue in the form of uprated springs and suspension components, and even increased track widths.

As with its likely rivals, the Toyota Hilux GR Sport III and Mitsubishi Triton Athlete, the W-Series won’t be aimed at the Ford Ranger Raptor, but rather lesser versions such as the Ranger Tremor and Wildtrak X.

From ‘cancelled R’ to ‘approved W’

Shortly before its world debut, Wolfsburg announced that while it had investigated the possibility of producing a Raptor-esque version of its own, rumoured to have been called Amarok R, eventual plans never materialised as an indirect result of the Blue Oval’s refusing it access to the Raptor’s blueprints.

In a follow-up to carsales.com.au, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Global Sales and Marketing Head, Lars Krause, said while the W-Series “has been developed in Australia for Australia, we are open to … other regions” with South Africa being mentioned as a key market.

According to the publication, a facility for production of the W-Series in South Africa is already being looked into as a means of setting it up for local market requirements.

As with global markets, the Amarok is produced exclusively at Ford’s Silverton Plant outside Pretoria whereas the Australian-market Ranger originates from Thailand rather than the former facility.

Expansion supported

“There’s been some discussions about that … there’s always opportunities in doing that, but at the same time we’ve got to make sure that program makes sense in other markets and there’s obviously risk as well – setting up a manufacturing plant in a country where we don’t have expertise,” Walkinshaw Automotive CEO, Ryan Walkinshaw, said.

“If it makes sense, we’re always open to these sorts of opportunities, but for now, the full focus of Walkinshaw Group and Volkswagen is to ensure that we deliver a great product manufactured locally with Australian hands”.

At the same time, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles CEO, Carsten Intra, said approval and logistics for the W-Series’ production outside Australia ultimately falls on Walkinshaw rather on the shoulders of Wolfsburg.

Admitting that an expansion of its halo model will come as a beneficiary though, Intra said, “Walkinshaw for sure has a good name, so we can work with them, but whether Walkinshaw wants to rebuild cars somewhere else in the world is their decision”.

“We are for sure interested to have halo cars on the Amarok as well in different markets”.

More later

Set to join the Premcar-made Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior that went on-sale last month, if approved, little else is known about Walkinshaw’s plans, however, expect more to be unearthed after the W-Series’ debut in 2026.

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