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.

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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.

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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.

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New VW Amarok Pickup Truck Helps out at the Dakar Rally

Just a few months before it goes on sale first in South America and then in Europe, followed by Australia and South Africa, the new Volkswagen Amarok pickup truck is exhibiting its capabilities by following the German firm's Motorsport team currently taking part in the Dakar Rally across South America.

A total of 35 Amaroks are being used as support vehicles by the Volkswagen team and the official organisers, ASO, throughout this year's 5,600 mile event which started from Buenos Aires in Argentina on 1 January and will cross the Andes to Antofagasta on the Pacific coast in Chile, before taking a southern route to the finish back in Buenos Aires on 17 January.

"We are thrilled to put the new Amarok through its paces as part of this long-distance challenge, the world's toughest, before officially launching it on the market," said Stephan Schaller, CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

The new Amarok pickup truck will be available as a four-door double cab version from launch with a single cab model to follow in 2011. It will be offered with a choice of two 2.0-liter TDI turbo diesel engines producing 122HP and 163HP, with power being delivered to either the rear or all-four wheels through a six-speed manual transmission.

According to Volkswagen, the Amarok comes with a payload capacity of up to 1.15 tonnes and maximum towing limit of 2.8 tonnes. For more details on the Amarok, click here to read out previous post.