Keen on a Volkswagen Amarok Raptor? Ford Ranger ute partnership could deliver, or inspire, a new off-road monster

Volkswagen is investigating ways to launch a true Ford Ranger Raptor rival to market as part of the new ute's launch plan - and if Ford refuse access to theirs, VW might just build their own.

That's the word from VW's Commercial division, who, after a massive year with the W-Series Amarok, say they've got their "hands in the air for everything" when it comes to the new Amarok, and a new Raptor-rivalling off-road model.

The brand says its new Amarok W580X, which will land in Australian showrooms from April, isn't intended as a direct rival to Ford's Raptor - despite dialling up the off-road equipment - and is instead an all-round offering designed to be capable both on- and off-road.

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But the all-new Amarok, this time built in partnership with Ford, could open the door to a more hardcore variant, with the brand not yet sure whether it can use the Raptor as its blueprint as part of its partnership agreement.

"We've got our hands in the air for everything. We actually haven't got that information (about using the Raptor). We don't know. But if we could, then yeah, I think we'd put our hands up for everything," says VW Commercial Vehicles Director, Ryan Davies.

Asked whether they might also partner with Walkinshaw (the company behind models like the W580S and W580X) for a true Raptor rival, Mr Davies said that too was on the table.

"There is opportunity for everything in the pick-up segment," he said. "It's definitely an option. It's what we need to investigate now."

Volkswagen's partnership with Walkinshaw has proven super successful for the German brand in Australia, with VW targeting 1500 W-Series sales in 2022, which will also act as a farewell to the current-gen Amarok in Australia.

This year, the brand delivered its 1000th W-Series Amarok.