Volkswagen is preparing a new Amarok pickup specifically for South America, where the midsize truck market is highly competitive. The latest Amarok is expected to arrive in 2027, while Volkswagen is also reportedly considering a pickup for the U.S. market.
A New Volkswagen Amarok for South America
Volkswagen recently staged two major pickup debuts in South America. The compact Tukan features a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and rear leaf-spring suspension, while the latest Amarok made its debut with much of its design still concealed ahead of its 2027 sales launch in South America.
Volkswagen says the new Amarok was engineered specifically for the South American market. The continent’s diverse terrain includes deserts, rain forests and tall mountain ranges, giving the truck a wide range of challenging conditions to tackle. During development, Volkswagen also placed the truck in the hands of potential customers to collect feedback.
The Amarok prototype is covered in a wrap inspired by South American landscapes. Its design includes references to Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia, the Amazon rainforest and the Copacabana promenade. Volkswagen says some of those themes will appear as styling Easter eggs on the production truck.
Amarok Powertrain Details Remain Limited
Volkswagen has not officially revealed the powertrains for the new Amarok, aside from confirming that electrification will be part of the lineup.
Motor1 Brasil reported finding a local filing indicating Volkswagen was preparing a model called the Amarok 800 TSI. According to the filing, the truck would use a plug-in hybrid powertrain producing 470 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. Less powerful turbodiesel and gasoline-powered versions would also likely be offered.
The Amarok will enter a highly competitive South American midsize pickup market, where it faces models including the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Chevrolet S10.
Volkswagen to Build the New Amarok in Argentina
Volkswagen began producing the Amarok at its Pacheco plant in Argentina in 2010. The facility has since built more than 800,000 Amaroks, making the pickup Volkswagen Argentina’s most-produced model in history.
The company has exported Amaroks to more than 100 markets and plans to build the new generation at the same facility. Volkswagen is investing $580 million at the plant, with part of that investment going toward retooling it for production of the new truck.
Could Volkswagen Bring a Pickup to the U.S.?
Volkswagen is reportedly considering selling a pickup in the United States. During a recent media roundtable interview, Dr. Kjell Gruner, president and CEO of Volkswagen America, said, “Of course, if the market has that size, you can’t just ignore it.”
However, a Volkswagen pickup developed for the U.S. market would not necessarily be the new Amarok. The company would have a key reason to engineer a different vehicle for North America: the long-standing Chicken Tax would require the pickup to be built in North America to avoid high tariffs, in addition to those already in place.
Volkswagen Keeps the 2027 Amarok Under Wraps
The new Amarok is being developed to meet the demands of South America’s varied terrain, while Volkswagen continues to withhold many details about the truck ahead of its 2027 launch.
For now, the company has confirmed the truck’s South American focus, its production plans in Argentina and the inclusion of electrification, while additional details about the new Volkswagen Amarok remain undisclosed.
