BMW has determined towards coming into the profitable truck phase, preferring to focus as a substitute on an enormous growth of its unibody SUV lineup. Though we’ve seen some one-off vans from the manufacturing facility over time, 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 Sequence, particularly a 330d constructed throughout 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 gasoline 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 3 times the facility of the unique 2.0 TDI that resided within the engine bay.

In the latest dyno run, the modified M57 produced a mountain-moving 920 Nm (678 lb-ft) of torque on the wheels, making this Amarok good for towing heavy masses. There’s extra to return as a result of a challenge automotive is rarely really completed, with subsequent mods to carry 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 group engaged on the pickup is toying round with the concept of creating the diesel engine ship energy to the entrance axle once more. How? By sourcing an automated 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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