Volkswagen Amarok puts on official duds for Dakar Rally

January 8, 2010

Filed under: Motorsports, Truck, Volkswagen, Off-Road

Volkswagen Amarok Dakar Support Vehicle – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2010 Dakar Rally, which is no longer run in Africa due to terrorism threats, kicked off from its designated starting point in Argentina on January 1st. Eventually, the competitors will end up back in Buenos Aires on January 17th, but not before traversing 5,600 miles of some of the toughest terrain on the planet.

This year, Volkswagen will be having a rather large presence at the Rally with four race-prepped Touareg SUVs taking part in the event along with 35 Amarok pickups that are acting as support vehicles. In the process, we imagine that the drivers will have plenty of opportunity to put the ridiculously named truck’s electronic differential lock, Off-Road ABS, Hill Descent Assist, ESP Plus system and Hill Hold Assist to the test.

Volkswagen would like you to know that the Amarok will be available starting this September in the UK, but has given numerous indications that it won’t be coming Stateside. Anyway, hit the jump for the press release and check out the high-res image gallery below of the truck gettin’ its rally on.

Gallery: Volkswagen Amarok Dakar Support Vehicle