New VW Amarok turned into off-road camper tourer

An Australian suspension system underpins a Volkswagen Amarok Overland prototype shown off at the global launch of the second-generation dual-cab 4x4 ute in South Africa this week.

Pulled together in only a few weeks by German off-road expert Genesis Import to display at the launch, the uprated Amarok PanAmericana includes suspension components developed by Melbourne off-road specialist Ironman 4x4.

Masterminded by Genesis’ chief technical officer Dr Bjorn Schulz, the PanAmericana prototype also incorporates products from other 4x4 accessory brands distributed by Genesis in Europe.

“We are the importer for all this stuff to Europe so we build cars like this,” he said. “We have done a logical Overland build for this new Amarok.”

The off-the-shelf Ironman 4x4 components fitted to the unique PanAmericana include Foam Cell Pro shock absorbers all round and uprated rear leaf springs.

They help deliver a 150kg increase in payload, a 45mm suspension lift to the front-end and a 50mm lift at the rear.

While the prototype is primarily designed as a publicity stunt for the Amarok’s global launch, the suspension set-up is understood to have attracted the interest of Volkswagen Commercial executives.

As a result, the heavy-duty suspension system could eventually become a factory accessory.

“The Foam Cell Pro is the largest shock absorber on the market right now. It has nearly one litre of Kayaba oil in the foam cell system,” explained Schulz.

“The leaves are adapted to additional payload, so we have 150kg extra payload on this car.

“That means I take a B-spring from Ironman – a 150kg spring – and equalise my payload again so the car will always drive normally.”

Other equipment added by Genesis included an Alu-Cab 65kg canopy, 85kg Gen 3-R rooftop tent and 270-degree Shadow awning.

There’s also a kitchenette, a sliding drawer system in the cargo bed, Gobi-X rock sliders and a steel bumper with swing-out tyre mount and firewood box, plus bonnet-mounted Lazer Lamps and Maxxis RAZR 265/65 AT rubber fitted to the standard black 18-inch PanAmericana wheels.

There is no front bull bar because of the complexity of making it compatible with radar sensors for the driver assist systems.

“I don’t even try,” said Dr Schulz.

This coalesces with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia’s recent confirmation it would not offer a bull bar as part of a significantly expand accessories offering for the new Amarok.

The rooftop tent helps promote the new Amarok’s upgrade to a 350kg static roof load limit.

Schulz confirmed the Ironman 4x4 components fitted to the prototype were plug-and-play and could be used by any dual-cab ute, including the closely-related Ford Ranger.

However, Schulz also discovered other items such as the canopy and drawers were not compatible with the new Ranger because the Amarok tub is 50mm longer.

“We just found out because we wanted to be smart and put the Ranger canopy on, but we figured out there was five centimetres missing,” Schulz said.

However, he was confident the same long-range fuel tank and under-bonnet accessories would be compatible with both the Amarok and Ranger.