ATL Autohaus, the local dealer for Audi and VW vehicles, now has on show its first VW Amarok, a new pickup from the German automaker that is expected to provide stiff competition to traditional models.

VW unveiled the vehicle early this year at the Dakar Rally held in South America, drawing rave reviews on its performance under extreme driving conditions.

Backed by German technology and a five-year development process, VW now expects the Amarok to seriously challenge the domain long held by the likes of Toyota and Ford.

Local purchasers will, however, have to wait until October this year to own an Amarok when the vehicles officially go on the market.

“What we have at the moment is a demonstration vehicle that was used by the support crew at the Dakar Rally,” ATL Autohaus managing director Brian Stevenson told Auto.

Although a 2.0 litre, fourcylinder, diesel engine vehicle, the Amarok, with its twin turbo, packs power equivalent to larger engines but is, on the contrary, noticeably frugal on fuel.

At a special launch held February in Argentina, VW executives championed the Amarok as having the lowest fuel consumption in its class, using approximately 7.6 litres per 100 kilometres.

According to VW engineers, the Amarok’s twin turbo engine produces the same torque as competitive vehicles using conventional technology.

The pickup, which is available in either a 4×4 or 4×2 drivetrain, is introduced with a six-speed manual gearbox. However, an automatic transmission is planned for the near future.

Packed full of safety and comfort features, the Amarok is offered in different versions spanning mere utility to a fully loaded lifestyle model.

An Electronic Stabilty Programme and an optional allwheel differential lock give the vehicle exceptional driving quality, in both off- and on-road conditions.

Actually recognising that it is entering a highly competitive arena, VW engineers tell Auto that they have given the Amarok more features than those existing in any other mid-size pickup currently on the market.

Dealer ATL Autohaus, a member of the Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart-owned ATL Group, officially opened its doors last week for the service of German brands Audi and VW.

Sales of the vehicles are scheduled to commence later this year from state-of-the-art facilities in both Kingston and Montego Bay.