MOTORING NEWS - One thing that Volkswagen has always lived up to, is their promise to build quality, reliable, real people’s cars. It is no wonder that they have long remained one of the most popular motoring brands in South Africa and why every VW driver on the road rides the badge with the utmost pride.
It was only natural that the release of the first-generation Amarok in 2010 was welcomed with much excitement, successfully holding rank against some of the biggest players in the pick-up-truck segment while also outdoing them in affordability.
13 years later, and manufactured right here in Mzanzi, we are gifted the first release of VW’s partnership with Ford, the Amarok 2nd Generation, and mense… it was definitely worth the wait!
Available in 19 different variations, built to suit just about any modern lifestyle, this double cab pick-up, that can easily fit four big adults (we know because we tried), has about the same amount of space as a car with the added cargo-bed in the back.
With the anticipated launch on 18 March, our marketing team went on one of their famous ride-alongs with VW legend Deon Uys, taking the Pan Americana on a little adventure to see what the Amarok is all about.
LET US INTRODUCE DEON UYS:
Deon is a born and bred Georgian with a heart of gold and adventure in his bones. He is a solid family man who loves to hit the nature trails of the Garden Route on his mountain bike in his spare time. With more than 13 years under his belt at Tavcor VW, there really is no one better to put you and your loved ones in the best VW for your needs - and his great knowledge of the off-road trails in the area will also prevent you from getting lost (we speak from experience, haha).
THE EXPERIENCE:
Our team had the pleasure of test driving the Pan Americana V6 turbodiesel which has been developed for off-road excitement, and excitement is most definitely what it delivered. Thanks to the four-motion all-wheel-drive system and an impressive range of off-road features such as a locking rear differential and hill descent control, off-road driving actually becomes not just exciting, but an absolute pleasure.
While the Amarok design keeps very much to the VW family look, the Pan Americana has its own rugged feel. Fitted with black trim on the grille, black rims, door handles and mirror caps, as well as a black roll bar in the bed, the Pan Americana doesn’t only do adventure, it also looks it.
For a double cab, we were very surprised with the space… we easily fit four adults into the cabin with room to spare. It almost gives the feel of being in a Golf, but with all the extra carrying ability in the back.
VIDEO: Watch the ride-along video with Deon Uys in the new VW Amarok Pan Americana
THE FAST FACTS:
- Engine: Available in 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine and 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel
- Power/Torque: Engine output ranges from 110kW and 305Nm to 177kW and 600Nm in diesel and 222kW and 452Nm in petrol
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic
- 4-year, 120 000km warranty
SAFTEY:
Achieving an NCAP safety rating of 5 stars, the Amarok comes with a large number of safety features, including:
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
- Traction Control System (TCS)
- Hill Descent Assist
- Trailer Stabilisation
- Front, Side and B-Pillar Airbags
- Rearview Camera
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Lane-keep assist
IN CONCLUSION:
The second-generation VW Amarok is a well-designed and capable mid-sized pickup truck that offers a comfortable interior, strong performance, and excellent towing and payload capabilities. As for the Pan Americana no, it delivers excellent offroad capabilities while simultaneously delivering a safe, comfortable drive. The perfect family adventure car.
To book a test drive, contact Tavcor on 044 813 0500.
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