Ben Zachariah
Volkswagen Amarok R: High-performance ute ruled out
The sporty Amarok W600 is just around the corner, but Volkswagen says there won’t be an R version of the ute as that nameplate is ‘sacred’.
1 Day Ago
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Ben Zachariah
Road Test Editor
Ben Zachariah has more than two decades of experience in the automotive industry and has written for leading Australian outlets including The Age , Drive , and Wheels , as well as international publications. Earlier in his career he worked across sales, marketing, and public relations, and later founded several companies before completing an MBA in 2021. He is also recognised as an expert in classic car investment. Based in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, Ben has a modest collection of rare European, Australian, and Japanese cars, and spends most weekends either competing in his BMW rally car, camping in the Victorian High Country, or watching F1 with his partner.
Ben's Articles
Ben Zachariah
2026 Kia K4 Hatch GT-Line review
The K4 is the replacement for the Cerato, but is Kia's latest small car on the same level as other popular models in the segment?
6 Days Ago
Ben Zachariah
Clive Palmer’s car collection to go on display
A selection of rare vehicles from Clive Palmer’s personal car collection will be exhibited in late June on the Gold Coast.
9 Days Ago
Ben Zachariah
Australia may be falling out of love with 4x4 utes
After a decade of the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger topping sales charts, new data shows four-wheel drive ute demand is down 18 per cent this year.
10 Days Ago
Ben Zachariah
Fear, subsidies, infrastructure: Why Victoria’s EV strategy is lagging
Australia’s second-largest state is falling behind in its electric vehicle infrastructure, but the scope of its problems is far wider.
11 Days Ago
Ben Zachariah
Cannabis users granted provisions to drive in NSW
The NSW Government is set to introduce a register for drivers using medicinal cannabis – but the proposed laws won’t be a free pass.
12 Days Ago
Ben Zachariah
Toyota Australia sales slipping, down by a quarter so far in 2026
After more than two decades as Australia’s most popular car brand, are buyers falling out of love with Toyota, or is it simply a supply issue?
12 Days Ago
Ben Zachariah
Walkinshaw performance packages hinted for Volkswagen Amarok W600
Power upgrade, big brake kits, and different wheel designs could all be made available to Volkswagen Amarok W600 owners in the future.
13 Days Ago
Ben Zachariah
Volkswagen Amarok W475: Opportunity for turbo-petrol Walkinshaw
Despite its turbo-diesel engine, the new Amarok W600 by Walkinshaw has been created for drivers – but could a turbo-petrol version happen?
13 Days Ago
Ben Zachariah
2027 Volkswagen Amarok W600 by Walkinshaw revealed
Volkswagen has again partnered with Walkinshaw Automotive to create a ute designed for drivers, born from customer feedback and data.
13 Days Ago
Ben Zachariah
Volkswagen Amarok W600 Walkinshaw review: Quick drive
Volkswagen has unleashed the engineers from Walkinshaw on the Amarok, and says the result is the “ultimate driver’s ute”. Can it live up to the claim?
13 Days Ago
Ben Zachariah
Diesel still has a strong future in Australia, says Volkswagen
The new-car landscape in Australia is evolving, but Volkswagen says there’s still a strong demand – and requirement – for diesel commercial vehicles.
16 Days Ago