Advanced Off-Road Capabilities of the VW Amarok V6
The VW Amarok V6 is inherently designed as a robust pickup truck right from the factory. However, for our expedition through the challenging Rif Mountains in Morocco, the Amarok PanAmericana underwent a significant transformation, equipped with an extensive off-road package from Seikel. This modification was aimed at enhancing the vehicle's performance on demanding terrains, providing increased protection, and boosting its off-road capabilities.
A central feature of this upgrade is the Seikel lift kit, which includes a KONI RAID suspension system that raises the vehicle's body by approximately 50 millimeters. These specially tuned shock absorbers ensure improved control and stability, even under heavy loads and during prolonged off-road journeys. Coupled with the Amarok's standard wading depth of 800 millimeters, this modification offers an additional safety margin of 50 millimeters for water crossings and difficult passages.
Enhanced Protection and Pricing for Off-Road Components
To ensure the Amarok can conquer rocky terrains, the pickup truck has been extensively fortified. Seikel outfitted the vehicle with steel rock slider side protection rails, designed to safeguard the sills from contact with rocks or debris. The Rockslider Plus variant features an additional protective tube that can also serve as a step for easier access into the cab.
Underneath the vehicle, multiple 5mm aluminum skid plates protect crucial components such as the engine, front axle differential, transmission, and fuel tank. Additional skid plates are included to shield exposed cable areas, preventing damage during long off-road adventures.
The individual prices for these components are approximately €1,620 for the lift kit, around €1,590 for the rock sliders, or about €1,808 for the Rockslider Plus. The added stone chip protection is priced at around €222. For the underbody components, Seikel charges approximately €695 for the engine protection, €639 for the transmission protection, €648 for the tank protection, and about €290 for the cable protection plates. In total, the complete Seikel off-road conversion—excluding installation costs—amounts to roughly €7,500, including VAT. This transformation turns the Amarok V6 TDI with 600 Nm torque into a significantly more robust travel pickup, ideal for expeditions, overlanding, and demanding off-road use.
Another notable development is related to water crossings. While the previous Amarok model had a standard wading depth of approximately 500 millimeters, often requiring an additional snorkel for particularly deep fords, the current Amarok comes factory-equipped with an impressive 800 millimeters of wading depth. This advancement has also reshaped the aftermarket accessories market. At Seikel, where snorkels were almost a staple for the previous Amarok model—just as they were on our Oman tour—this component has lost its significance for the new model, which already comes with the necessary reserves. However, for those frequently traversing extreme water crossings, additional measures can still be beneficial. For standard off-road and overlanding trips, the new Amarok's factory wading depth is already notably superior to that of its predecessor.
As reported by automativ.de.
