What does the 2026 Volkswagen Amarok Walkinshaw need to include to succeed against performance ute rivals like the Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior and Ford Ranger Raptor? | Opinion

Details have been hinted at, and speculated about, and shadowy arty teasers have further whet the appetite of Amarok fans everywhere but still information about the upcoming Walkinshaw VW Amarok remains scant.

The next-gen W Series is tipped to be available here in 2026, so what does the Walkinshaw Amarok need to do to make a splash in what is a red-hot competitive ute market?

And, to date, sales of the current second-gen Amarok have not been massive in Australia.

The new-generation collaboration between VW and Walkinshaw Group is expected to build on the success of the two companies’ most recent team-ups and after this upcoming release the Amarok line-up will likely take on a bigger scale and include more variants.

VW and ute fans found plenty to like in the V6 W580, W580 S and W580 X, however, VW must offer next-level performance, engineering and tuning in its new W Series variant to satisfy an increasingly sophisticated and demanding ute-buying public.

There’s lots of talk about what people can guess about the upcoming Amarok’s styling as gleaned from the recent teaser images – unique grille design, an LED light bar linking the headlights, wider wheel arches, a larger set of alloy wheels, and a sailplane – but surely everyone’s more interested in the powertrain, right?

There’ll likely be a return to the current line-up’s 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine (184kW/600Nm) matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission or the top-spec Aventura’s 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine (222kW/452Nm), but any performance enhancements for on- and off-road driving would be welcome.

More power, more torque as part of a wider performance-oriented overhaul would put the upcoming Amarok even more front of mind for many potential buyers.

The new variant will benefit from further reworked and tuned road-biased suspension and even more tweaking of the exhaust system, but those Amaroks aimed more at performance and comfort off-road should continue to benefit from heavy-duty rock sliders, top-quality underbody protection, as well as a fine-tuned suspension lift and off-road tune.

If you’re considering through an off-road lens what form the new Amarok may take, then further upgraded suspension, engineered for better comfort and capability on off-road terrain, and honing of any other off-road characteristics that will make the vehicle even more suited to tough off-roading conditions.

Any off-roader worth their salt knows that 4WD or AWD efficacy can be improved with attention paid to improving a vehicle’s tyres and suspension.

If VW is serious about developing a version of the Amarok that has wide appeal but also very specific appeal to those who are already extremely passionate about the off-roading lifestyle – or who are keen to immerse themselves in that community – then VW and Walkinshaw have to produce the goods.

The most recent iteration of the off-road-oriented W580 X had bash plates, rock sliders, a 40mm suspension lift (with twin-tube dampers front and rear), and diff breathers. A factory snorkel (aka raised air intake) was offered as an option.

The new-gen Amarok needs the much-anticipated fine-tuned suspension lift, as well as further fine-tuning, testing and calibration of the Amarok’s off-road traction control system, more aggressive all-terrain tyres wouldn’t go astray (maybe even 17-inch BFGoodrich all-terrains), and greater on-vehicle flexibility for inclusion of mission-ready aftermarket accessories (including space upfront for a winch and cradle or mounting plate etc) not just off-road eye candy.

Perhaps a factory snorkel as standard. And the expansion of any collabs with Aussie aftermarket mobs such as ARB (as per the 40mm suspension lift) could prove fertile ground for VW.

Just because the current Amarok hasn’t yet set sales figures on fire doesn’t mean it should miss out on a place in the Aussie market. There are a fair few of them on city and suburbans streets any day of the week and you’ll see plenty of them out bush, in various states of aftermarket modification, on bush tracks and beaches.

But VW and Walkinshaw need to get the next gen right if the Amarok is going to make further market in-roads here.