√Hybrid or electric Volkswagen Amarok coming

It’s a race between plug-in hybrid and battery-electric power for a future electrified Volkswagen Amarok, according to the German car giant.

An electrified Volkswagen Amarok is , according to Volkswagen executives – but it’s unclear whether this will use hybrid or electric power, and when it is due in showrooms.

Volkswagen executives have expressed interest in an electrified Amarok – either plug-in hybrid or battery-electric – but say they do not want to compromise its capabilities in payload, towing or driving range, and ensure it has the performance parameters to compete in the ute segment.

However, the car maker is grappling with how best to achieve this.

Although the Ford T6.2 platform – which underpins the Volkswagen Amarok, along with its Ford Ranger twin, and Everest SUV – is capable of supporting fully electric and plug-in hybrid power, executives say the road forward for Volkswagen is still unclear.

Volkswagen product management Petr Sulc told Australian media at an international preview of the new Amarok the company is working on “seeking the best solution for the customer”.

“You have this trade-off of the payload and the towing capacity, because the biggest problem of the plug-in hybrid is: if you put the battery in, the payload is dropping down by 400kg,” Mr Sulc said.

“And then, you are not able to bring 3.5 tonnes towing, and then you lose exactly what [makes a pick-up a pick-up].”

“For the fully electric vehicle, it’s the same. If you have 3.5 towing, you have to stop every 150km and recharge.”

Ford is believed to be developing plug-in hybrid versions of its new Ranger ute and Everest SUV – siblings under the skin to the Amarok – for 2024, and the synergies between the Ford and VW vehicles could pave the way for a hybrid Amarok.

When pressed on whether a future electrified Amarok is more likely to be a mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric model, Mr Sulc said it depends upon the requirements of upcoming, stringent Euro 7 emissions requirements due in Europe in 2025.

“If you look at the first draft that was last presented, I don’t see a mild hybrid as being possible,” said Mr Sulc, referencing the strict nature of the Euro 7 rules, which many car makers claim will make it no longer profitable to build many types of petrol cars (such as city hatchbacks).

“That’s according to the draft, we have to wait for the final version. Personally, I see the plug-in hybrid [as the solution].”

Petrol is seen by Volkswagen as the preferred fuel over diesel for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), as under the current draft for the Euro 7 rules, the regulations for petrol engines are more lenient than diesel.

“You’ll see the requirements for diesel are much higher than the requirements for petrol, so technically, it’s much easier to bring PHEV (with) a petrol engine,” Mr Sulc told Australian media.

When asked whether the electrification of a future Amarok would bring a negative impact on its capabilities, Mr Sulc highlighted that both electric or plug-in hybrid power would result in reduced driving range.

“If you put less battery, you would be capable of keeping towing [capacity] and payload, but then it’s again about the payoff of electrical range.”

“Because normally in the broader VW range, we have 100 kilometres of electric range [for a plug-in hybrid vehicle]. And we see the technical solution [for a plug-in hybrid Amarok] is lowering the electrical range.

“So we would like to bring all of our models to battery electric some day. But now, we are waiting for the good day; when it is the best to do so.”

Drive has previously reported electric versions of the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok may launch late this decade, if they are given the green light – however executives for both companies have declined to confirm any speculation.

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