Volkswagen and Walkinshaw partner to create Amarok ‘W580’
Volkswagen has revealed a new premium version of their Amarok dual cab ute – the W580. The result of a year-long, "top secret" collaboration between Volkswagen and Walkinshaw Automotive, the Amarok W580 is one of the first examples of Walkinshaw’s post-HSV/Chevrolet future, while for VW, it sees them join Australia’s ‘hot ute’ segment.
Described as a “GT-style” ute (indicating it’s built for the road, not the dirt), the Amarok W580 is based on the TDI580 Highline and receives performance upgrades, covering suspension, exhaust, wheels and tyres, as well as cosmetic alterations.
Ryan Davies, Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia, explained the motivation behind giving Australian customers the ‘ultimate GT dual-cab ute’.
“We have always known what a powerhouse we have in the Amarok, but have always felt the range needed a proper GT-spec model. As the originators of the performance ute category, we looked no further than Walkinshaw to achieve this.”
To create the W580, partially assembled Amarok TDI580 Highlines are shipped to Walkinshaw Automotive’s facility in Clayton for conversion, which is something of a homecoming, as Volkswagen Australia’s assembly operations were in the same Melbourne suburb. From 1954, VWs were first assembled, then manufactured at Clayton, with the factory in operation for more than two decades. The same factory was used by HSV from the 1980s to 2018.
Riding High
The key change in the W580 over a regular Amarok Highline V6 is in the suspension.
Walkinshaw say they treated the standard Amarok suspension - which is made up of an independent double-wishbone A-arm front and leaf spring live axle rear in factory spec - to a comprehensive retune.
Following Walkinshaw’s history with hot Holdens, the suspension modifications are all about making the Amarok stiffer and sharper on the road, rather than improving performance off-road.
That being said, fitting Pirelli Scorpion 275/50 R20 tyres as standard does increase the ride height over the standard Highline’s 255/50 tyres. Walkinshaw have applied an additional 40mm lift at the front end for what they call a “more aggressive overall stance”, while track has been widened, too.
Exhaust and Appearance
As the 190kW/580Nm Amarok V6 is already the most powerful ute in its class, no modifications have been made to the 3.0-litre diesel engine to extract more performance.
“The Volkswagen product seems to lend itself to a very high performance, GT-image. You’ve got that terrific V6 diesel engine with class-leading torque [in the Amarok] and it really does deserve a performance flagship in the range,” said Walkinshaw Chief Designer, Julian Quincey.
While they haven’t touched the engine, Walkinshaw have fitted a custom twin exhaust system, with “side pipe” tips aft of the rear wheels.
Bi-xenon headlamps and LED foglamps have also been added, while all-new 20x9-inch wheels are exclusive to the W580. Appropriately called ‘Clayton’, these 5-spoke alloys feature VW-badged centre caps.
Appearance changes include a moulded, body-coloured sportsbar, Walkinshaw-designed grille and front bumper inserts, wheelarch extensions and special decals on the flanks and bonnet.
A Walkinshaw Performance badge on the tailgate is carried over inside, where each Amarok W580’s individual build number will be displayed on a dash plaque. VW sports seats will also be fitted.
An actual build total for the W580 has yet to be revealed by Volkswagen, although some sources have said initial allocation will be 1000 units.
December order, April arrival
Full specification and pricing for the VW Amarok W580 will be revealed on 1 December, when order books officially open ahead of delivery from April, 2021.
With the TDI580 Highline currently listing for $61,990 for the standard version and $64,990 for the Black Edition, the W580 is expected to be in excess of $70,000 given its local modifications and “limited edition” status, making it the most expensive Amarok available in Australia.
Online pre-orders were already in the hundreds at time of writing following the W850’s announcement on 15 October. The first 30 customers who order online will score an all-expenses paid, money-can’t-buy “exclusive Walkinshaw Experience” which includes flights, transfers, meals and accommodation to tour the Walkinshaw factory at Clayton and attend a Walkinshaw Andretti United track day with the WAU Supercars team.
See your Volkswagen dealer for more details.
