Dana Holding Corp. announced that it has begun supplying Spicer Life Series propshafts for Volkswagen’s all-new midsize pickup truck, the 2010 Amarok. Available in two- and four-wheel-drive versions, the four-door double-cab Amarok is powered by two turbocharged direct-injection common-rail diesel engines.
The pickup truck launched in South America early this year and also will be sold in Europe, Russia, Australia, and South Africa. A single-cab version is scheduled for release in the first half of 2011.
“Dana’s longstanding relationship with Volkswagen has allowed us to integrate our engineering into the development of this vehicle, creating the best possible product designs for the customer,” says Harro Burmann, president of Dana South America. “Dana has had a presence in Argentina for more than 50 years, equipping us to provide localized engineering, testing and validation support in addition to our manufacturing center in Buenos Aires.”
The lightweight design of Spicer Life Series propshafts provides greater performance, ride and handling. The steel propshaft utilizes Dana’s magnetic-arc welding technology, which facilitates precise component orientation, substantially improving initial propshaft balance characteristics. Staked-and-centered cardan universal joints eliminate unwanted looseness and provide a smoother, high-speed dynamic performance.
“Our engineers have developed products to help Volkswagen break into the midsize truck market by ensuring that on- and offroad drivers experience a smooth and quiet ride on diverse terrains,” says George Constand, Dana chief technical officer. “As the sole independent driveshaft manufacturer in the South American region, Dana has the global engineering expertise to contribute to Volkswagen’s first pickup truck platform.”
Dana will manufacture the propshafts at its facility in Buenos Aries, Argentina, and ship them to Volkswagen’s facility nearby.
