2x4? 4x4? Where you want to go?

Two different driveline concepts are available for the new Amarok Double Cab: 4x2 rear-wheel drive and a switchable 4MOTION ALL-wheel drive.

Both versions also have an electronic differential lock which operates by automatic braking interventions to prevent wheel spin on one side of the vehicle. Thanks to EDL, drive forces are always applied to the wheel with the best traction.

4x2: With 4x2 rear-wheel drive, the new Amarok should appeal to customers who are primarily interested in the utility aspect of a bakkie body and the flexible cargo options it offers, but will predominantly drive their vehicles on paved roads.

4MOTION: The four-wheel drive variant is right at home on off-road terrain as well as tar.

Gear reduction

The Amarok with switchable four-wheel drive is an ideal choice for the toughest off-road conditions and is identified by a red “4” in the 4MOTION logo. This conventional solution – widely used in the bakkie segment – with transfer case and a rigid four-wheel-drive system (no viscous centre differential) produces solid power transfer between the axles at the press of a button.

Additional off-road gear reduction of the bakkie’s standard six-speed transmission also enables extreme crawler drives. This is beneficial when taking on extreme off-road terrain and climbing steep inclines with up to a 45-degree incline which the Amarok can even master with a full payload.

The Amarok cuts a good figure on the boulevard, yet when paired with the mentioned switchable 4MOTION four-wheel drive with rear differential lock it is also ideal for serious expeditions on difficult off-road terrain.

The same applies to the dreaded approach to an incline: With an approach angle of 28 degrees (front) and exit angle of 23.6 degrees (rear, including bumper with 18 degree rise angle) the Amarok masters steep inclines as well as deep depressions, which it handles impressively thanks to a ramp breakover angle of 23 degrees.

Get your tyres wet

Need to cross a river? The Amarok does this with ease in water up to half a metre deep.

Electronic safety systems assist the driver in off-road situations too. Take off-road ABS, for example: it’s activated by a button next to the gearshift lever to significantly reduce braking distance on loose road surfaces.

In conjunction with the ESP system, hill-descent assist is activated at less than 30km/h. On extreme descents it applies controlled braking to prevent unintentional acceleration of the vehicle.

The Amarok boasts a technical innovation in the bakkie class: the driver can independently adapt the vehicle’s speed to a given situation by actuating the brake and accelerator pedals. In the reverse situation, hill-hold assist ensures that the Amarok doesn’t roll backwards on an incline when the brakes are released.