BMW has determined in opposition to getting into the profitable truck phase, preferring to focus as a substitute on an enormous enlargement of its unibody SUV lineup. Though we’ve seen some one-off vans from the manufacturing unit through the years, sadly none of them entered collection manufacturing. Somebody fancied a BMW-powered pickup and determined to place a diesel engine of Bavarian origins right into a Volkswagen.

This primary-generation Amarok has misplaced its unique four-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine to accommodate a bigger inline-six, 3.0-liter unit. It’s an M57 sourced from a 3 Collection, particularly a 330d constructed through the E90 period. Nevertheless, it now not makes the inventory 228 hp and 370 lb-ft (500 Nm) because it has been extensively modified for additional grunt.

Inside two months, the modifications included eradicating the exhaust fuel recirculation (EGR) system whereas incorporating a hybrid turbo, new consumption, and exhaust. Extra mods had been essential to make the BMW engine play properly with the unique VW {hardware}. The truck now pumps out 378 hp, greater than thrice the ability of the unique 2.0 TDI that resided within the engine bay.

In the newest dyno run, the modified M57 produced a mountain-moving 920 Nm (678 lb-ft) of torque on the wheels, making this Amarok excellent for towing heavy masses. There’s extra to return as a result of a challenge automobile isn’t really completed, with subsequent mods to raise output. We’d argue it already has the numbers to again up its standing as a sleeper efficiency truck.

This Amarok was initially four-wheel drive however making the truck run with the BMW engine meant switching to a rear-wheel-drive structure. Nevertheless, the staff engaged on the pickup is toying round with the thought of constructing the diesel engine ship energy to the entrance axle once more. How? By sourcing an computerized transmission from an X5.

In the meantime, we will see the tail-happy Amarok with BMW energy doing burnouts across the second-generation mannequin, which doesn’t have a VW engine both. That’s as a result of the newer utilitarian automobile relies on the Ford Ranger and is definitely constructed by the Blue Oval with a Ford engine.

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