The Volkswagen Amarok will switch to an almost exclusively V6 drive series by 2026, with one exception.
As Daily SparkzExclusively reported in December 2025, the entry-level TDI405 Core variants with 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo diesel and the 2.0-liter TDI500 variants with bi-turbo diesel have been deleted.
That leaves the crew-cab 4×4 ute range, powered by a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 – dubbed the TDI600 – as well as a single TSI452 variant with a 2.3-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine.
Customer deliveries of the 2026 model year (MY26) Amarok vehicles are expected to begin in late April or early May, while the local arrival of the new W600 flagship has already been confirmed in the third quarter (July to September) of 2026.
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The TSI452 petrol engine is now only available in the Style trim instead of the top trim Aventura; Style is now the entry-level Amarok, with Core and Life dropped. The TSI452 Style will be available exclusively with 20-inch “Bendigo” alloy wheels, a $1,290 option.
The Amarok’s cousin, the Ford Ranger, on the other hand, retains a four-cylinder single-turbocharged diesel and only offers a 2.3-liter four-cylinder turbo petrol engine coupled with a plug-in hybrid system. The Ranger’s flagship variant, the Raptor, also features exclusively a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 gasoline engine.
Pricing and specifications for the MY26 model range will be announced closer to launch, although Volkswagen says it will offer “clearer differentiation between qualities and reduced complexity of option packages”.
From 2026, the range will be joined by a limited Dark Label edition, of which only 200 examples will come to Australia, all with the 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6.
The special edition contains:
- 20-inch “Bendigo” alloy wheels in matt black
- IQ. Light Matrix LED headlights with black bezels
- Darkened taillights
- Black powder coated sports bar
- Matt black roof rails and B-pillar film
- Front skid plate, running boards, rear bumper, door handles, mirrors and cargo area cover in black
- Front bumper ‘X-Design’ in black
- Sprayable tub insert
- Sticker pack
Developed by Walkinshaw Automotive, the W600 will sit at the top of the Amarok range.
Previewed earlier this year, Volkswagen has an identical 184kW/600Nm output to the rest of the turbodiesel V6 Amarok range. However, like previous W-Series versions of the original Amarok, it receives upgrades to improve its dynamics, including frequency-selective Koni dampers and 20-inch forged alloy wheels shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires.
All Amaroks in Australia feature a double cab body, full-time four-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The MY26 lineup is as follows:
- Style TSI452
- Style TDI600
- Style TDI600 cab/chassis
- PanAmericana TDI600
- Aventura TDI600
- Dark label TDI600
- W600 TDI600
Amarok buyers have long preferred six-cylinders to four-cylinders, even before the current generation.
In the current model, the TDI600 Style equipment variant alone accounts for 40 percent of Amarok sales.
MORE: Explore the Volkswagen Amarok showroom
