Volkswagen Amarok drops four-cylinder diesel, adds blacked-out limited edition for 2026
he MY26 Amarok range goes almost fully V6, with a 200-unit Dark Label special edition and a Walkinshaw-engineered W600 flagship both confirmed for Australia this year.
Rob Leigh
Volkswagen has overhauled the Amarok lineup for 2026, cutting the four-cylinder diesel variants entirely and doubling down on V6 power. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in late April or early May.
The entry-level TDI405 and TDI500 four-cylinder diesel grades are gone. What's left is a six-model range built almost entirely around the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6, badged TDI600, with just one petrol option remaining: the 2.3-litre TSI452, now available only in Style trim.
That TSI452 Style also gains permanent 4Motion all-wheel drive and six drive modes, plus an optional set of 20-inch Bendigo alloy wheels for $1,290, exclusive to this variant.
The headline addition is the Amarok Dark Label V6, limited to just 200 units nationally. It's all visual: matte black 20-inch Bendigo wheels, LED matrix headlights with black surrounds, darkened taillights, black sports bar, side steps, door handles, mirrors, tonneau cover and a full sticker pack across the bonnet, doors, tub sides and tailgate. Pricing hasn't been confirmed yet.
Sitting above that is the Amarok W600, developed with Walkinshaw Automotive Group and due in the third quarter of 2026 (July to September). It shares the same 184kW and 600Nm outputs as the rest of the V6 range but adds Koni frequency-selective dampers and 20-inch forged alloys shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tyres. More details are coming later in the year.
The full MY26 lineup is Style TSI452, Style TDI600, Style TDI600 cab-chassis, PanAmericana TDI600, Aventura TDI600, Dark Label TDI600 and W600 TDI600. All run a 10-speed automatic with permanent all-wheel drive.
It's worth knowing that V6 variants already dominated Amarok sales, with the TDI600 Style alone accounting for 40 per cent of volume. This update just makes that preference official.
Pricing across the range will be confirmed closer to the late April launch.
