Volkswagen has revealed more details of its second-generation Amarok pickup, which has been developed in partnership with Ford and shares plenty in common with the new Ranger.

The vehicle is set to go on sale at the end of the year, when buyers will have the pick of five engine types – one petrol and four diesels. 

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These include both four- and six-cylinder formats, and 2- or 3-litre displacements, all of which run through an automatic transmission with the option of rear-wheel drive, on-demand 4×4 or permanent all-wheel drive.

While the contours and bodywork are being kept under camouflaged wraps for now, changes to the Amarok’s dimensions are clearly visible.

Most notably, it has a wheelbase of 3,270mm, some 175mm longer than its predecessor, which makes room for a more spacious double cab.

In terms of design, the front section has been reframed with narrow LED lights and a bold grille.

The payload has also been improved, now 1.2t, and towing capacity has been upped to 3.5t on some models.

Wading depth has apparently been increased too, and all-terrain tyres will be available as standard on alloys wheels up to 21in diameter.

There’s no word yet on price, but VW has confirmed that production will take place in South Africa.