Spy shots of the 2022 Volkswagen Amarok: the Ford Ranger.

A prototype of the Amarok, a midsize pickup truck that Volkswagen plans to redesign in 2022, has been spotted for the first time. It was snapped during testing at Ford's main test site in Dearborn, Michigan.

Some readers will recall that in 2019 VW's parent company, the Volkswagen Group, said it was working with Ford on several joint projects, including platforms, production facilities, and self-driving technology.

VW confirmed last year that one of the joint projects is a redesigned Amarok, based on the same T6 body-on-frame platform as the upcoming Ford Ranger, which will be unveiled around the end of the year. Spy shots show that the two vehicles are very similar, but there will be some unique elements that will differentiate them.

VW teased the pickup's design in a teaser sketch released in March (see below). The teaser suggests a somewhat aggressive look for the new pickup. It also suggests that it will follow the crew cab design of the current Amarok, which VW launched in 2010.

The powertrain should be shared by both pickups. This means turbocharged inline-4 and V-6 options, including diesel in some markets; a 6- or 7-speed manual will be standard, and a 10-speed automatic is expected to be available.

Ford will build the Amarok for VW at its South African plant, and so far the pickup has only been confirmed for the South American, European, and African markets. It would make sense for the Amarok and Ranger to share a production line in the U.S. if approved for a U.S. launch.

A trademark application for the Amarok name with the US Patent and Trademark Office discovered in 2018 suggests that VW is at least considering the possibility. Although unlikely, another option is for VW to build another pickup at its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant; VW hinted at the possibility with its 2018 Atlas Tanoac concept, which was based on the same unibody and It was based on the same unibody platform as the Atlas SUV already in production in Chattanooga. The last VW pickup sold in the U.S. was the smaller Rabbit, which disappeared in 1984.

In return for developing and building the Amarok for VW, Ford would get a new commercial vehicle from VW, in this case a small van based on the VW Caddy; the VW Group would also license the MEB modular electric vehicle platform to Ford. Ford will use this platform for one or more EVs it sells in Europe, the first of which is scheduled for 2023. Ford estimates that as many as 600,000 MEBs will be needed over the next five to six years.

The new Ranger will have its top removed in the next six months. The new Amarok should debut about six months after the Ford twins.