The moment I dropped into the driver’s seat of the new Volkswagen Amarok W-Series, I knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary test drive.
There’s something immediately different about this vehicle—a raw energy that communicates itself through subtle vibrations in the steering wheel even before you press the ignition.
The Amarok has always represented the more refined corner of the ute market, appealing to those who want capability without sacrificing comfort.
But this W-Series collaboration with Walkinshaw takes the German-designed, now Ford-partnered platform into entirely new territory.
“We weren’t interested in creating just another special edition with some badges and trim pieces,” explains James Peterson, Project Lead at Walkinshaw Performance, as we walk around the vehicle before my test drive.
“The brief was simple but ambitious—take the already capable new Amarok platform and transform it into something that would make even dedicated performance enthusiasts turn their heads.”
That ambition is immediately evident in the vehicle’s stance.
The W-Series sits noticeably taller than the standard Amarok, with a 50mm suspension lift that creates genuine road presence.
Adding to the effect are the exclusive 20-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in 35-inch all-terrain tires that fill the flared wheel arches with purposeful aggression.
This isn’t a ute trying to look tough—it’s a vehicle engineered to back up its visual promises with genuine capability.
And as I was about to discover during an extensive on and off-road evaluation, those promises are kept with impressive conviction.
Performance Upgrades That Transform the Driving Experience
Pressing the start button delivers the first hint that this isn’t a standard Amarok.
The familiar 3.0-liter V6 turbo-diesel engine fires with a deeper, more purposeful note thanks to a custom Walkinshaw performance exhaust system.
This isn’t just acoustic theater—it’s the sound of genuine performance upgrades at work.
While the standard Amarok V6 is no slouch with its 184kW and 600Nm outputs, the W-Series receives a comprehensive remap and upgraded intercooler system that pushes those figures to an impressive 225kW and 670Nm.
“Finding the right balance was crucial,” explains Walkinshaw’s lead calibration engineer, Sarah Chen, whom I spoke with during the technical briefing.
“We wanted significant gains in both power and torque, but not at the expense of drivability or reliability. The Amarok’s V6 has tremendous potential when properly optimized.”
That optimization becomes immediately apparent as I merge onto the highway from Walkinshaw’s Melbourne headquarters.
The acceleration is transformed—where the standard Amarok builds speed with assured confidence, the W-Series delivers its performance with an eagerness that’s almost shocking in a vehicle of this size and category.
The revised calibration delivers peak torque 400rpm earlier than the standard model, creating a surge of midrange thrust that compresses distances with impressive efficiency.
Walkinshaw claims a 0-100km/h time of 6.9 seconds—making this not just quick for a ute, but genuinely quick by any passenger vehicle standard.
What’s more impressive is how the performance has been integrated with the existing driveline.
The standard 10-speed automatic transmission (which comes from the Ford partnership underpinning the new-generation Amarok) has been recalibrated to match the engine’s new performance profile.
Shifts are more decisive and occur exactly when you want them, whether cruising or pushing hard along the winding coastal road section of our test route.
Suspension and Chassis: Engineered for Both On and Off-Road Excellence
Performance upgrades would mean little without the chassis control to make them usable, and here’s where Walkinshaw’s motorsport heritage becomes most evident.
The W-Series doesn’t simply get a lift kit and some off-road tires—it receives a comprehensive suspension re-engineering that transforms the vehicle’s capabilities on all surfaces.
“We spent over 20,000 kilometers in development driving,” explains Michael Thomas, Walkinshaw’s chassis development lead, who joined us for the off-road portion of our evaluation.
“That included everything from high-speed highway stability to technical off-road trails and even track work. The goal was creating a vehicle with genuinely dual personalities.”
The W-Series features OME (Old Man Emu) remote-reservoir shock absorbers with bespoke valving developed specifically for this application.
These are paired with progressive-rate springs that deliver impressive compliance over rough surfaces while still maintaining body control during spirited driving.
The combination creates a remarkable balance—the W-Series delivers a more controlled ride than the standard Amarok despite its increased height and larger wheels.
This becomes particularly apparent when we leave the tarmac for some serious off-road trails in Victoria’s High Country.
Where many modified vehicles with performance aspirations sacrifice off-road capability, the W-Series excels.
The additional ground clearance combines with revised approach and departure angles (now 30 and 27.5 degrees respectively) to clear obstacles that would challenge lesser vehicles.
The upgraded suspension soaks up high-frequency impacts that would have a standard ute bouncing off line, allowing the W-Series to maintain momentum through challenging sections with remarkable composure.
Walkinshaw has also upgraded the braking system to match the enhanced performance.
The W-Series receives 362mm front rotors with six-piston AP Racing calipers, providing stopping power that inspires confidence regardless of conditions or load.
During repeated high-speed braking tests, the system showed no sign of fade and maintained consistent pedal feel—critical attributes in a vehicle that might be asked to haul a heavy load one day and tackle a winding mountain road the next.
Exterior Design: Purposeful Aggression Without Excess
The visual transformation of the Amarok is comprehensive but shows admirable restraint—this is no ostentatious styling exercise but a case of form following function.
The wider stance is accommodated by custom composite front quarter panels and rear wheel arch extensions, increasing the vehicle’s width by 45mm while integrating seamlessly with the factory sheet metal.
“We wanted the W-Series to look like it could have come from the Volkswagen factory this way,” explains Design Director Emma Wilson.
“No tacked-on parts or aftermarket appearance—everything is integrated and purposeful.”
This philosophy extends to the unique front fascia, which features larger air intakes to feed the upgraded cooling system and a more pronounced skid plate finished in brushed aluminum.
The hood receives subtle power bulges that hint at the increased performance without shouting about it.
Lighting upgrades include a roof-mounted LED light bar integrated into a custom sports bar, plus supplementary driving lights mounted within the redesigned front bumper.
These aren’t just for show—during night driving on unlit country roads, the enhanced illumination provides a significant safety advantage, particularly when traveling at the higher speeds the W-Series makes deceptively easy.
Perhaps most distinctive is the exclusive W-Series paint—a deep metallic finish called Walkinshaw Blue that changes character dramatically depending on lighting conditions.
Under bright sunlight, it reveals subtle flake that gives tremendous depth; in overcast conditions, it takes on an almost stealth-like matte appearance.
Alternative colors include Limestone White, Midnight Black, and Eclipse Silver, all featuring contrasting matte black accents and subtle W-Series graphics along the lower door panels.
Interior: Premium Performance Without Sacrificing Practicality
Inside, Walkinshaw has enhanced rather than redesigned the Amarok’s already impressive cabin.
The fundamentals remain—excellent ergonomics, good visibility, and class-leading material quality—while strategic upgrades elevate the experience to match the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
Most noticeable are the front seats, which have been replaced with custom Walkinshaw sport units featuring increased bolstering, integrated headrests, and W-Series embroidery.
These are upholstered in a combination of Nappa leather and Alcantara, providing both luxury and the grip needed during spirited driving.
“The seat development was crucial to the overall driving experience,” notes Interior Design Manager Robert Chen.
“A vehicle with this level of capability needs to hold you in place comfortably during aggressive driving but remain comfortable during long highway journeys.”
The existing steering wheel is rewrapped in perforated leather with contrasting blue stitching and a centering stripe at the 12 o’clock position—a subtle motorsport touch that proves useful when managing the W-Series’ more responsive steering during spirited driving.
Other interior enhancements include machined aluminum pedals, custom instrument faces with W-Series branding, and a numbered build plaque on the center console identifying each vehicle’s position in the limited production run.
The infotainment system receives a Walkinshaw-specific welcome animation and custom drive mode displays, but otherwise retains the functionality of the standard Amarok system—which includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Practical touches include additional USB-C ports for rear passengers and a 100W power outlet in the tray—useful for powering campsite equipment or work tools.
Practical Performance: Work Capability Meets Weekend Warrior
Despite its performance credentials, the W-Series remains a genuine workhorse.
Payload capacity is maintained at just over one tonne, and the vehicle retains the standard Amarok’s 3500kg braked towing capacity—though the enhanced powertrain makes hauling heavy loads noticeably easier.
“We were adamant that the W-Series wouldn’t sacrifice any practical capability,” explains Project Lead Peterson.
“This isn’t just a performance model; it’s a genuine dual-purpose vehicle that needs to excel whether it’s on a worksite Monday or tackling an off-road adventure on Saturday.”
To demonstrate this versatility, our test route included a towing exercise with a 2.7-tonne boat trailer.
Where many performance-oriented vehicles struggle with such loads, the W-Series’ additional torque made the exercise almost trivial, with the recalibrated transmission holding gears appropriately to maintain momentum on inclines.
The rear tray receives practical upgrades including a spray-in liner as standard, plus a cargo management system with adjustable tie-down points.
Models equipped with the optional Touring Package also receive a slide-out tray that can support up to 250kg—ideal for accessing gear without climbing into the tray.
Another thoughtful addition is the integrated air compressor system mounted discreetly under the rear seat.
This allows for tire pressure adjustments in remote locations—essential when transitioning between on and off-road driving—and comes with a 7.5-meter hose that can reach all four wheels without repositioning the vehicle.
Technology and Safety: Modern Features Meet Performance Requirements
The W-Series doesn’t sacrifice any of the standard Amarok’s impressive technology and safety features, which include adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.
In fact, several systems receive enhancements to work with the vehicle’s modified performance envelope.
The electronic stability control system, for example, has been recalibrated to accommodate the larger tires and increased performance without becoming intrusive during spirited driving.
Similarly, the off-road modes receive revised parameters to work with the upgraded suspension and enhanced ground clearance.
“Safety was never going to be compromised,” insists Walkinshaw’s Safety Systems Engineer, David Thompson.
“But we did need to ensure that all the electronic systems worked harmoniously with the vehicle’s enhanced capabilities rather than fighting against them.”
This attention to detail extends to the tire pressure monitoring system, which has been recalibrated to work with the larger off-road tires and can store multiple pressure presets for different driving conditions—from highway cruising to rock crawling.
The standard 360-degree camera system has also been recalibrated to account for the vehicle’s increased height and wider track, ensuring accurate representation during tight maneuvering despite the modified dimensions.
The Driving Experience: Where the Beast Truly Comes Alive
After a full day behind the wheel across varied terrain, what lingers most is how cohesive the W-Series feels despite its significant modifications.
This isn’t a collection of aftermarket parts bolted to a standard vehicle—it’s a comprehensively developed package where each enhancement complements the others.
On the highway, the W-Series displays remarkable stability despite its increased height.
The steering—slightly heavier than standard thanks to the larger tires—delivers precise response without the vagueness often found in lifted vehicles.
Wind and road noise remain well controlled even at higher speeds, with only a subtle increase in tire roar from the more aggressive tread pattern.
It’s when the road turns winding that the W-Series reveals its most surprising character.
The body control is remarkable for a ute, with significantly reduced roll compared to the standard Amarok despite the taller ride height.
The chassis responds to inputs with an immediacy that belies its size and weight, changing direction with confidence that encourages the driver to push harder.
The enhanced engine and transmission calibration come into their own here, delivering exactly the right amount of power exactly when you want it.
The additional torque means you can often leave the transmission in a higher gear through sequences of corners, riding the wave of mid-range thrust rather than hunting for lower gears.
Off-road is where many performance-oriented vehicles show their limitations, but the W-Series continues to impress.
During our test route’s rock-crawling section, the combination of increased ground clearance, improved approach angles, and the standard Amarok’s already capable 4×4 system made light work of obstacles that would challenge many dedicated off-roaders.
The upgraded suspension maintains impressive articulation while controlling body movements that would have a standard ute bouncing off line.
Perhaps most revealing was a high-speed dirt road section, where the W-Series demonstrated remarkable poise.
The suspension soaked up corrugations that would have many vehicles skipping nervously, while the recalibrated stability control allowed just enough slip angle to maintain momentum through sweeping corners without becoming intrusive.
Ownership Experience: Not Just a Vehicle, But a Community
Purchasing a W-Series Amarok isn’t just buying a vehicle—it’s joining a community.
Each owner receives a personalized handover experience at Walkinshaw’s headquarters, including a tour of the facility where their vehicle was enhanced and a detailed technical briefing from the engineering team.
“We want owners to understand exactly what makes their vehicle special,” explains Customer Experience Manager Lisa Chen.
“This isn’t just about creating an emotional connection—though that’s important—but ensuring they can get the most from their vehicle’s capabilities.”
The ownership package includes a certificate of authenticity, a leather-bound book documenting the build process of their specific vehicle, and exclusive access to Walkinshaw driving events held throughout the year.
Maintenance remains straightforward, with servicing available through Volkswagen’s dealer network despite the significant modifications.
Walkinshaw provides a comprehensive warranty package that matches Volkswagen’s five-year/unlimited-kilometer coverage for all enhanced components.
Another benefit is the strong owner community that has developed around previous Walkinshaw-enhanced vehicles.
Regular gatherings, driving events, and an active online forum provide both practical support and social connection—something particularly valued by owners living in regional areas where such vehicles excel.
Market Position and Competitors: Creating a New Category
With a starting price of $92,990 plus on-road costs for the base W580, rising to $112,990 for the fully-equipped W680X model driven here, the W-Series positions itself at the premium end of the ute market.
However, direct competitors are few.
The Mercedes-Benz X-Class has departed the market, while the Ranger Raptor offers a different approach to high-performance ute development with its focus on high-speed off-road capability.
The RAM 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado occupy a larger physical footprint and different price bracket, though they target a similar buyer seeking premium capability.
In many ways, the W-Series creates its own category—a premium ute with genuine performance credentials, significant off-road capability, and exclusivity guaranteed by limited production numbers.
Only 500 examples of the W-Series will be produced for the Australian market in the first year, with each vehicle individually numbered.
Walkinshaw indicates that interest from overseas markets may see limited exports to select countries, but the focus remains on the Australian market where the vehicle was conceived and developed.
Pre-orders have been strong, with the first allocation reportedly nearly sold out before the official media launch—testament to both the strength of the Amarok brand and Walkinshaw’s reputation for creating special vehicles.
A New Benchmark in Performance Utes
The Volkswagen Amarok W-Series represents a significant achievement in the increasingly popular premium ute segment.
By combining Volkswagen’s engineering excellence with Walkinshaw’s performance expertise, they’ve created a vehicle that excels across multiple disciplines without significant compromise in any area.
It delivers genuine performance credibility, impressive off-road capability, practical utility, and a distinctive appearance that turns heads without resorting to excessive styling elements.
What impresses most is the cohesiveness of the package.
This doesn’t feel like a collection of aftermarket parts but a comprehensively developed vehicle that could have rolled off a factory production line.
Every modification serves a purpose, and all work together harmoniously to enhance the driving experience.
For buyers seeking a premium ute that stands apart from increasingly common factory performance models, the W-Series offers both exclusivity and genuine capability.
Its limited production numbers ensure it will remain a relatively rare sight on Australian roads, while the comprehensive development program ensures it delivers on the promises made by its aggressive appearance.
After a full day behind the wheel across varied terrain, my conclusion is simple—the Volkswagen Amarok W-Series sets a new benchmark for what a performance-enhanced ute can be.
It’s not just about straight-line speed or off-road capability, but the successful integration of both alongside everyday usability and premium comfort.
For those fortunate enough to secure one of the limited production slots, the W-Series promises to be not just a vehicle but an experience—one that continues to reward long after the initial excitement of ownership has faded.
In a market increasingly populated by vehicles trying to be all things to all people, the W-Series stands out by excelling at being exactly what it claims to be—the wildest Amarok yet, and all the better for it.
This article is based on a comprehensive test drive of the 2025 Volkswagen Amarok W680X conducted in April 2025. Vehicle specifications were accurate at time of writing but may change for production models. Contact your local Volkswagen dealer for current information and availability.
Specifications: Volkswagen Amarok W680X
Engine: 3.0-liter V6 turbo-diesel with Walkinshaw performance upgrades
Power: 225kW @ 4000rpm
Torque: 670Nm @ 1800-3200rpm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic with performance calibration
Drive System: Permanent all-wheel drive with off-road modes
0-100km/h: 6.9 seconds (claimed)
Fuel Consumption: 9.8L/100km combined (manufacturer figure)
Suspension: OME remote-reservoir shock absorbers with Walkinshaw-specific valving
Brakes: 362mm front rotors with 6-piston AP Racing calipers, 330mm rear rotors
Wheels: 20-inch forged alloy (Walkinshaw design)
Tires: 35-inch all-terrain (multiple brand options available)
Ground Clearance: 290mm
Approach/Departure Angles: 30 degrees/27.5 degrees
Wading Depth: 850mm
Payload: 1010kg
Towing Capacity: 3500kg braked
Weight: 2420kg
Limited Production: 500 units for Australian market (first year)
Warranty: 5-year/unlimited kilometer (including Walkinshaw enhancements)