Last month, Ford announced it would ax the 2.0-litre four-cylinder bi-turbo diesel engine in its Ranger ute – and expand the availability of the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine in the upcoming MY26.5 range, which will be opened by an improved 2.0-litre single-turbo diesel.
Now, Daily Sparkz has learned Volkswagen will soon be joining his relatives Amarok Double cabin.
Volkswagen Australia has not yet publicly announced its plans for the Amarok after Ford’s “bi-turbo” engine was phased out globally in early November. The second-generation Amarok is the Ranger’s under-the-skin twin and is manufactured by Blue Oval in South Africa.
However, Daily Sparkz Dealer sources have now confirmed preliminary details of the reshuffled Amarok range – as told to them by Volkswagen Group Australia – which are expected to be announced soon, ahead of it hitting local showrooms in the second half of next year.
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According to local Volkswagen dealers, the Life TDI500 and Style TDI500 variants with bi-turbo diesel engines are no longer offered (VW model variant names reflect torque output).
The entry-level Amarok Core TDI405, which currently opens the range at $55,490 before on-road costs, will also be discontinued for retail and small fleet customers and will only be available “as an additional fleet volume under the management of VGA (Volkswagen Group Australia)”.
Instead, Volkswagen will introduce a new entry-level variant of the Amarok Style TSI452, powered by a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, replacing the slow-selling Aventura TSI452 – currently the Amarok’s only petrol offering, which costs $79,990 before on-road launch and accounts for less than 10 per cent of sales.
For comparison, the TDI600 Style V6 variant accounts for a dominant 40 percent of Amarok sales.
Pricing for the Amarok MY26 is yet to be announced, but the new base Style TSI452 is upgraded with a permanent 4Motion all-wheel drive system, which includes a 4A mode for use on sealed surfaces, replacing the switchable 4×4 system of the previous Style TDI500 and is suitable for all V6 Amaroks.
The new Style TSI452 will also be available with optional 20-inch “Bendigo” alloy wheels “to create a visual difference to the V6 Style”, but the “Savona” leather interior option will no longer be available on any Style Amarok.
The existing Amarok Style, PanAmericana and Aventura models with TDI600 V6 drive remain unchanged; The latter is the flagship of the Volkswagen double cab range and currently costs $82,990 plus ORCs.
Ford is discontinuing its 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel engine globally, not only because of the cost of complying with stricter future emissions around the world, but also because of its problematic wet timing belt. The single-turbo diesel engine that replaces it will be upgraded to a more conventional cam chain.
Ford Australia’s improved MY26.5 Ranger range (which will be produced in Thailand with the exception of the South African-sourced PHEV variants) is due to arrive here by mid-2026. We therefore expect the revised MY26 Amarok range to arrive here some time later, including an encore of the popular original Amarok W series developed by Walkinshaw Automotive.
A spokesman for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia said Daily Sparkz The Amarok MY26 model range has not yet been finalized, but highlighted that the V6 diesel engine was preferred by the vast majority of customers in both the original Amarok, launched in 2010, and the second-generation Ranger-based, launched in mid-2023.
It is therefore possible that the TSI452 petrol engine will be canceled along with the four-cylinder TDI405 and TDI500 diesel engines for MY26.
“For 15 years, the Amarok has firmly established itself as a ‘V6 brand’ and has evolved into something more – its loyal and new customer base loves its premium value, upscale driving experience, outstanding performance and class-leading handling,” the spokesman said.
“These are the virtues that will become even more of a focus for the Amarok in the second half of 2026 and fit perfectly with the upcoming and highly anticipated Amarok W-series flagship that is in development.”
“At this time the range is not final. We will finalize a range that focuses on what fans love most about the Amarok, starting with an ‘entry point’ that has features such as a stitched leather-look dashboard, significant driver seat support, high-quality appointments and lots of technology – combining a premium feel with classically great performance and handling.
“This thread will continue and culminate with the Amarok W series, resulting in a very distinct and determined range for our customers.”
In the meantime, Volkswagen will sell a range of four-cylinder Amaroks well into next year and is currently offering deals on new and demonstrator MY24 models, which will be purchased by private customers from November 1, 2025 and delivered until December 31, 2025.
These include the Amarok Life TDI500 at $60,490 auto, the Amarok Style TDI600 at $71,990 auto and the Amarok Aventura TSI452 at $80,990 auto, while the Life TDI500-based Amarok 10 Deserts Edition remains available at $69,990 auto.
Stay tuned for official details on the streamlined MY26 Amarok range.
MORE: Explore the Volkswagen Amarok showroom
