VIDEO: New VW Amarok Takes Down a 140 Tonne Chimney

Volkswagen marked the UK launch of its new Amarok truck with a rather unusual demonstration, using four pickups to demolish a gigantic, 67-meter (220 feet) tall steel chimney weighing in at around 140 tons. To complete a job that would normally have been done by a 40-ton excavator, structural engineers and demolition experts meticulously planned the task, undertaking a series of tests to see if the Amaroks had the necessary power and traction to do the job. The structure was prepared using a standard procedure of flame cutting a “shark’s mouth” at the base of the chimney in order to reduce its structural integrity while ensuring that it remained free standing. The cars were fitted with a “quick release” safety mechanism for the towing ropes to ensure the safety of the stunt drivers in case the structure fell in the wrong direction.
When everything was set, four standard Amarok pickups fitted with the standard 163HP 2.0-liter TDI engine simultaneously pulled four 200-meter long ropes attached to the top of the chimney and successfully brought the structure down to its knees – or so to speak. The VW Amarok officially launches in Britain on May 9 as a four-door doublecab, with a starting price of £21,343 ($35,300).
Scroll down to watch the VW Amarok making its powerful entry on the UK market.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

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VIDEOS

VW Prices Amarok Pickup Truck from £16,995 in the UK

Volkswagen has dropped pricing details for the new Amarok pickup truck in Britain. At launch, the Amarok will be offered only as a double-cab in three trim levels and with a choice of two turbo diesel engines. Prices start from £16,995 for the Startline model and £18,995 for the Trendline, while the range-topping Highline will cost from £21,575.

The entry-level powerplant is the 2.0-litre TDI with 122-ponies, which is available on the Startline models. A more powerful 2.0-liter BiTDI with 163-horses is standard on the Trendline and Highline models.

All Amaroks come equipped with VW's 4MOTION Selectable four-wheel drive system, which allows the driver to choose between rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and low range four-wheel drive through a dashboard-mounted button. All models fitted with this 4WD system have a gross vehicle weight of 3,170 kg and more robust suspension which results in a payload of over 1,045 kg.

In addition to the 4MOTION Selectable system, the Highline model is also available with the option of a permanent 4WD system that reduces payload to below 1,045 kg due to the different settings of the suspension, which is tuned to offer "a more car-like driving experience with improved ride and refinement", according the German company's claims.

The standard equipment on the Startline model includes 16-inch alloy wheels, 4MOTION Selectable four-wheel drive, electric front and rear windows, semi-automatic air conditioning and single CD / radio plus an array of safety features such as six airbags, ESP, Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), Hill Hold Assist, Hill Descent Control, Trailer Stability Control and off-road ABS.

The Trendline model adds two-zone automatic air conditioning, RCD 310 radio / CD player, cruise control, multifunction computer, leather-trimmed steering wheel, handbrake and gear knob, color-coded mirrors, front bumper and wheelarch extensions along with front fog lights and 17-inch ‘Aldo’ alloy wheels.

Finally, the Highline specification is further enhanced with chrome detailing on the front grille, door mirrors and rear bumper, polished stainless steel sidebars, privacy glass and 18-inch ‘Durban’ alloy wheels, plus leather upholstery, heated front seats and rear parking sensors.

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Tuning Quickie: Oettinger's Volkswagen Amarok with 190HP

For Oettinger, tuning the Volkswagen Amarok 2.0 BiTDI didn't mean offering impressive exterior and interior modifications, neither insanely boosting the power, just simply rewriting some of the engine management software. But hey, it gets the job done.

The German pickup truck's diesel powertrain now delivers 190 hp, a 27 hp gain over the stock version. As for torque, the twin-turbocharged unit pushes out 430 Nm (317 lb-ft) at 1,500 rpm, and 450 Nm or 332 lb-f between 2,800-4,000 rpm.

Obviously, Oettinger's Amarok is also a tad faster accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 10.5 seconds (0.6 seconds faster than the factory model), and reaches a top speed of 187 km/h (116 mph).

The performance upgrade is available for €1,090.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Oettinger , Via WFC