VW Amarok

The Volkswagen Amarok is the German companys mid-sized pickup truck. A relatively newcomer to the LCV game, production of the Amarok only began in 2009, although its conception in the heads of VolkswagenÂ’s executives occurred some years before.

It was 2005 when VW first announced their plans to create a new pickup truck and develop their range of off road vehicles. Several leaked photos appeared in subsequent years, each showing a vehicle one step nearer to completion. Finally, in 2008, VW debuted the Amarok as a search and rescue vehicle ahead of a wider release the following year.

Stories abound about the Volkswagen Amaroks slightly enigmatic name. The light commercial vehicles name is reputed to mean Wolf in Inuit and he who likes stones in traditional Romany dialects. Others have pointed out its similarities to the word Tomorrow in traditional Irish and its congruence with the title of a 1990 LP from prog icon Mike Oldfield.

Regardless of the origins of its name, and despite the Amaroks status as a latecomer into an already crowded market, the Volkswagen pickup truck has undoubtedly been a success. October 8th 2011 saw the 100,000th Amarok roll off the production line, an impressive total considering the vehicles relative youth.

In addition to its commercial success, the vehicle has also won a glut of awards, including the What Van? Pickup of the Year award and the slightly mind-boggling Zoo Magazine Manliest Motor award.