Next VW Amarok will be based on the Ford Ranger

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Toyota?

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in bed with Subaru. Where do you think the Toyota 86 motor came from ?

Also with Mazda doing a new Corolla I believe.

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Originally Posted by LRJim

The hilux is a capable unit and its got a real shifter but thats about it, never been in the newest one but the last sr5 wasnt that flash. Ive only driven the amarok a few times but other than my issues with the clutch everything else was effortless. Even my FIL complains about the clutch maybe hes just getting old and came from driving old nissans.
Cheers Jim

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Latest Hilux model is chalk and cheese to the previous one - much better platform. Having said that the Amarok is much better IMO but has a VW badge on it which scares a lot off - I know at work they looked at them and went with Ford as the VW ‘may not be as reliable’. That’s just one business - we buy with our heads, not hearts too, so something in it maybe? About 100 vehicles a year - were Hiluxs which I have but now Rangers which is what I’ll get next year. All models were considered and tested. Wonder how many other (much larger) businesses have done the same?

As as for the public, VW is always going to have a smaller appeal and market compared with Toyota and Ford, so probably doesn’t matter what they use, they’ll never get close in this country I doubt.

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Originally Posted by Homestar

Latest Hilux model is chalk and cheese to the previous one - much better platform. Having said that the Amarok is much better IMO but has a VW badge on it which scares a lot off - I know at work they looked at them and went with Ford as the VW ‘may not be as reliable’. That’s just one business - we buy with our heads, not hearts too, so something in it maybe? About 100 vehicles a year - were Hiluxs which I have but now Rangers which is what I’ll get next year. All models were considered and tested. Wonder how many other (much larger) businesses have done the same?

As as for the public, VW is always going to have a smaller appeal and market compared with Toyota and Ford, so probably doesn’t matter what they use, they’ll never get close in this country I doubt.

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40k until I get a new lux....

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Originally Posted by grey_ghost

The good old cost cutting model sharing excuse... Who remembers the Ford Maverick and Nissan Ute? Holden Commodore and Toyota Lexen? Holden Apollo and Toyota Camry? Look how that worked... [emoji16]

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Yeah, but that was done 'under duress' from Button's plan back in the day.

Other R&D(proper R&D!!)) earlier efforts than those Aussie attempts, include the Type 4 chassis from Fiat/Alfa/Lancia/SAAB. Granted that Fiat, Alfa and Lancia were all owned by the same Italian auto manufacturer, but that they had SAAB in on the deal was interesting.
Those 9000's (at least) were one hell of a solid chassis too.
I had one early model and a later one too.

GM in the US had how many brands of vehicles, all sharing chassis platforms.
Dad used to own Cadillacs back in the day. I think it was the '67 coupe, one day broke some front suspension bush, and had to get towed away.
I was with dad, when he went to get a replacement wishbone and whatever from his Cadillac parts chap in Ballarat, and the best he could do was one from a Buick(maybe), they all used the same parts underneath.

I can't see anything wrong with R&D collaboration.
Major issue is that while the manufacturers save millions, that doesn't tend to translate into cheaper vehicles! .... it usually means higher profit margins for the manufacturers [bighmmm]

Don’t get me wrong - my daily drive is a Skoda, and looking under the bonnet it doesn’t take long to find a VW badge. Actually the Skoda has a lot of features compared to it’s expensive VW cousins.

I was just trying to say that model sharing doesn’t always work.

Maybe it will be like the VW Toureg / Porsche Cayenne - developed together but look quite different...

EVs will change vehicle design and make platform sharing easier. An EV will have a flat platform with batteries low down driving electric motors to turn the wheels. Almost any body can then be bolted on top,whether a Ranger or Amarok.
If VW is going to adopt Fords platform it may just mean Ford has the best platform already designed.