8 speed auto... VERY nice.
VW Amarok to get 8-spd auto
Matt Campbell
September 15, 2011 - 8:12
Self-shifting derivative of German brand’s ute sets a new benchmark for commercial vehicles.
Volkswagen has finally confirmed the automatic transmission it desperately needs for its Amarok ute – and it will have eight ratios.
Volkswagen snuck in the surprise announcement at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show, confirming the ground-breaking transmission.
Unlike most other self-shifting transmissions in the VW lineup, the Amarok’s is a conventional torque converter unit (rather than dual-clutch system often used on sportier cars), and is identical to that used in the recently released Touareg SUV.
The eight-speed auto-equipped vehicle on show was fitted with a new 132kW version of the 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine and featured stop/start and a claimed consumption of 7.6L/100km (manual models are rated at 7.9L). It also boosts torque from 400Nm to 420Nm, and the towing capacity rises to 3.2 tonnes.
While the automatic transmission is due in 2012, Volkswagen’s head of development, Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, is looking even further ahead for the Amarok.
Asked whether a Amarok-based SUV would be considered, Hackenberg suggested it was a strong possibility, but indicated that supply constraints would potentially hold it back – at least in the short term.
“We call that an RUV – a robust utility vehicle – and it makes a lot of sense in some countries, but what you need is volume. And the factory is at full capacity, but we are just transferring production also to Germany ... next year,” he says.
Hackenberg also said there may be a larger seven-seat SUV to sit above the Touareg, but admits nothing is confirmed as yet.
“We have a seven-seat SUV which is based on Touareg – the Audi Q7,” Hackenberg says.
“Volkswagen actually is not looking for a seven-seater, but there are some markets, for example the US and China, which could make sense to have a bigger SUV which is different, so we are analysing this market,” he says.
