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2026 Volkswagen Amarok Walkinshaw ute: price, specs and release date in Australia
Volkswagen and Walkinshaw Group have officially announced their partnership will continue on the second-generation Amarok, with plans well advanced to introduce unique Walkinshaw engineered vehicles in 2026.
The announcement came during Volkswagen's Commercial Vehicle Day 2025 held in Sydney where the company also showcased its updated seventh generation Multivan and the upcoming Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX, the range topping all-wheel drive variant of the all-electric people mover which arrives down under mid-2026.
The first iteration of the Volkswagen Amarok W series proved highly successful in the Australian market, with the W580 selling over 2,600 vehicles during its production run. The line-up expanded to include the off-road focused Amarok W580X variant, culminating with the exclusive W580 SE limited edition, of which only 100 units were produced.
Expected to come later in the production cycle, the new Walkinshaw Amarok, currently named W-Series, will no doubt help Volkswagen's prospects in the increasigly competitive ute market, which this year will see several new entrants from Chinese manufacturers, and next year, the arrival of the newly announced Ford Ranger Super Duty.
Read more: Australia's best utes of 2025
The 2022 Volkswagen Amarok W580X, an offroad focused ute
When will the 2026 Volkswagen Amarok Walkinshaw W-Series go on sale?
Speaking at the event, Ryan Walkinshaw said that the design for the new W series Amarok has been finalised, with testing scheduled to continue throughout the remainder of 2025. The vehicle is expected to launch in 2026, bringing what the company describes as "next level design, performance and handling."
"The W580 was an incredible success, selling over 2600 vehicles over its lifespan," said Ryan Walkinshaw. "Now we're here to announce the next chapter of the W series, and it couldn't be more exciting.
“Walkinshaw Group, once again, has partnered with Volkswagen on the second-generation Amarok, and the plan this time is to go even further than we went before."
No specific vehicle details were confirmed at the announcement however we do know that the Amarok Walkinshaw Series will not be powered by the 3.0-litre turbo petrol engine used in the Ford Ranger Raptor, a vehicle which shares its basic platform with the Volkswagen Amarok.
It will, however, bear a striking similarity to the teaser image shared so expect a bold exterior, unique suspension set up and unique wheel and tyre package.
Volkswagen has revealed a single teaser image which it says is representative of the Amarok's final design
About Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
Volkswagen’s announcement of the Amarok W-Series was part of a broader presentation of Volkswagen's commercial vehicle strategy, which includes a complete renovation of their commercial fleet and a renewed commitment to the Australian market.
The company has also outlined plans for ongoing electrification of its fleet, aiming at 100 per cent electrified fleet of its commercial vehicles. Late last year, it previewed the new Volkswagen ID-Buzz all-electric Kombi range comprising people movers and Cargo van with vehicles now available at Australian dealers.
Also confirmed for electrification was the Volkswagen Transporter which will be available as a battery electric vehicle by the end of this year, and a petrol plug-in hybrid version which will be available in the second half of next year.
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