• VW Amarok W600 is a Walkinshaw-built Australian market special.
  • It gains 20-inch wheels, fender flares, and a redesigned bumpers.
  • A bespoke suspension replaces the stock off-road setup entirely.

While most automakers offer rugged variants of their midsize trucks with various extent of modifications, Volkswagen is one of the few exploring a different direction.

The new Amarok W600, developed for the Australian market in collaboration with local engineering firm Walkinshaw Performance, focuses on on-road handling and sporty appeal instead of chasing rock-crawling or dune-bashing capability.

More: VW’s “All-Black” Amarok Can Be Had In Blue And Grey For Those Who Missed The Point

The W600 continues the bloodline of the previous-gen W580 with a number of styling and chassis upgrades. The truck was originally announced in November 2024 and has now been officially previewed. A market launch is expected sometime between July and September 2026.

What’s Changed?

The preview gives us all the information we need about the beefed-up version of the Amarok, but keeps the redesigned front end under wraps. Aside from the camouflaged bumper and grille, key visual changes include 20-inch alloy wheels fitted with Michelin performance tires, fender extensions to accommodate the widened track, a body-colored sports bar, and distinct model badging.

VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls

Other touches stand out as well. Electrically deployable side steps add a bit of theater and practicality, while the dual tailpipes suggest a livelier exhaust note. Inside the cabin, Walkinshaw branding appears on the headrests, floor mats, and footrest, joined by a set of aluminum pedals that hint at the truck’s tuned character.

Built to Corner, Not Crawl

Arguably the most important change lies beneath the surface. The W600 gains a custom suspension system developed with input from Koni, including a new rear anti-roll bar.

Painted blue for easy identification, the new hardware is tuned to deliver more precise handling and a smoother ride, without undermining the Amarok’s ladder-frame foundation or its baseline off-road ability.

VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls
VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls

Power That Stays Put

Despite the chassis upgrades, there are no modification under the hood. The W600 retains the standard 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel, rated at 247 hp (184 kW / 250 PS) and 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque.

It’s a capable unit, but well behind the twin-turbo 3.0-liter gasoline V6 used in the related Ford Ranger Raptor, which delivers up to 392 hp (292 kW / 397 PS) in Australian-spec models.

More: I Drove The Ranger Lobo Ford Should’ve Built For America

Speaking to CarSales, VW Commercial Australia boss Nathan Johnson addressed the engine choice. He confirmed that the higher-output V6 from the Raptor was simply “not available” for Amarok use.

Johnson also said that the 2.3-liter turbocharged petrol and the 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel were both considered, but the decision ultimately came down to customer preferences and the available data, which favored the V6 diesel.

VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls

What About A Rugged Amarok?

If a sport-tuned Amarok isn’t what you’re after, and last year’s four-cylinder 10 Desert Edition didn’t catch your eye, there may still be reason to watch this space. Michael Cenci, product manager for the Amarok in Australia, told local outlet Drive that a more off-road-focused version hasn’t been ruled out.

More: Ford’s Toughest Ranger SUV Gets A Gasoline V6, But You’ll Need A Passport To Get One

While Cenci stressed that the W600 is the current priority, he acknowledged that an off-road derivative is “never off the table.” A future Amarok W600X could eventually take the place of the now-retired W580X, likely bringing tougher styling and a taller ride height to the new generation.

The only problem is that Walkinshaw specials are only available for customers in Australia and New Zealand. The rest of the world can rely on tuners like Delta 4×4, which outfits the VW truck with wide fender flares, a lift kit, and new wheels wrapped in mud-terrain tires.

VW’s Making A Pickup That Corners Better Than It Crawls

Walkinshaw