The Toyota Hilux Thread

Toyota Hilux: another facelift coming, next-gen scheduled for 2023?

A fresh report out of the United States suggests the Toyota Hilux will receive another facelift in the “near future” ahead of the arrival of the next-generation model in 2023.

According to a source cited by Motor1.com, both the Hilux bakkie and Fortuner SUV are due a refresh soon, with the ninth-generation of the former and the third-generation of the latter each scheduled to arrive in 2023.

 
Toyota Hilux GRMN: Should It Happen

 
South Africa's 10 best-selling bakkies of February 2020

The sales figures for February 2020 are in ... and as many as 1 017 units separate the top two vehicles on our list of South Africa’s best-selling bakkies.

According to Naamsa, February’s new vehicle industry sales came in at 43 485 units, representing a 0,7 percent fall compared with the corresponding month in 2019. The light commercial segment, meanwhile, showed a 17,7 percent drop to 11 625 units compared with February 2019.

South Africa’s 10 best-selling bakkies of February 2020:

1. Toyota Hilux – 2 895
2. Ford Ranger – 1 878
3. Isuzu D-Max – 1 333
4. Nissan NP200 – 1 167
5. Nissan NP300/Hardbody – 737
6. Mahindra Pik Up – 327
7. Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-up – 218
8. Volkswagen Amarok – 176
9. GWM Steed – 156
10. Nissan Navara – 125

 
Toyota Hilux by Wald is Boss

Japanese tuning company, Wald International, has taken the Toyota Hilux to the dark side with its Sports Line Black Bison Edition and we like it!

This is perhaps one of the most striking bakkie mod we have seen in a while.

This special Hilux features modified front and rear bumpers, bug guard and a bonnet scoop cover, additional LED lights and a widebody kit that makes this Hilux some 55 mm wider. Also, large rugged. You will also notice the rear tailgate spoiler, rear spats and a tri-side-exhaust system finished in stainless steel. With the fender extensions, large 22-inch Jarret rims can be fitted and shod with chunky offroad tyres.


wald-toyota-hilux-black-bison-1.jpgwald-toyota-hilux-black-bison-6.jpgwald-toyota-hilux-black-bison-2.jpgwald-toyota-hilux-black-bison-8.jpgwald-toyota-hilux-black-bison-9.jpgwald-toyota-hilux-black-bison-3.jpg
 
Refreshed Toyota Hilux to gain more powerful 2,8-litre engine – report

A fresh report out of Australia claims the Toyota Hilux will be facelifted towards the middle of 2020, with its 2,8-litre turbodiesel engine set to receive a power hike.

According to CarAdvice, the bakkie’s mid-cycle update will include “added creature comforts” such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a power hike for the four-cylinder oil-burner that currently generates 130 kW (plus 420 N.m in manual guise or 450 N.m in automatic form).

 
New Toyota GR Hilux bakkie to borrow Land Cruiser 300’s turbodiesel V6?

A fresh report out of Australia claims Toyota’s long-awaited GR Hilux could end up being powered by the upcoming Land Cruiser 300’s rumoured turbodiesel V6.

According to CarsGuide (which, we should point out, is seemingly basing its speculation on a separate likewise-unconfirmed rumour about the new Land Cruiser 300), a full-fat GR Hilux with V6 power could be on the cards.

Earlier in March 2020, another Australian publication cited “an insider close to the project” as saying the new Land Cruiser 300 would be offered with a “high-torque” six-cylinder unit, likely in the form of a V6. And it’s this powerplant CarsGuide suggests will find its way into the apex Hilux.

In the Land Cruiser, the new engine is expected to replace the current Land Cruiser 200’s 4,5-litre V8 turbodiesel, with outputs at least matching (or more likely exceeding) that eight-cylinder engine’s 195 kW and 650 N.m. Such peak outputs in Toyota's double-cab bakkie would see the rumoured GR Hilux outpunching the current Volkswagen Amarok V6, which makes 190 kW and 580 N.m in top-spec form.

 
New Toyota GR Hilux: V6 diesel coming only in bakkie's ninth generation?

A fresh report out of Australia suggests the rumoured V6-powered Toyota GR Hilux is likely to arrive only in the Japanese bakkie’s ninth generation.

Late in March 2020, speculation arose claiming a full-fat GR Hilux was in the pipeline, with power likely to come from a “high-torque” V6 turbodiesel engine expected to be debuted by the new Land Cruiser 300.

Now, however, CarsGuide reports the GR-badged Hilux is “unlikely to arrive in the vehicle’s current iteration”, with buyers expected to have to wait until the bakkie’s next generation rather than just the upcoming facelift (which itself is set to bring a more powerful version of the 2,8-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel unit).

 
Why the Toyota Hilux Legend 50 makes for an epic camp trip

Economical companion

Pulling into our campsite sometime later we were refreshed and recharged. The Hilux's fuel gauge was still pointing north thanks to a conservative 7.6 litres/100km fuel economy - so that's nice. Then there's the fact that after the last 10km of dirt, the Legend 50, now baking in the sun, had gone from silver to brown, caked in layers of dust.

I'd argue, it was an improvement - in this new weekend warrior hue.

With gear unpacked, tent erected and camp chairs pointing at the Hilux, I reflected on what was a great choice for a gritty getaway weekend.

Quick Specs: Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD6 Legend 50 4x4 Manual

Engine: 2.8-litre turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission, 4x4
Performance: 130kW/450Nm,
Fuel consumption: 7.6 litres/100km
Price: R671 000

 
WATCH | A hilarious reminder why the Toyota Hilux is damn-near unbreakable

Just in case you might have forgotten, the Toyota Hilux is a respected bakkie in the motoring world.

For more than fifty years, this Japanese icon has enchanted and convinced buyers of its prowess and capability. Perhaps more than any other bakkie on the planet.

It can't die

A good few years ago, Jeremy Clarkson (when he still worked on Top Gear), took an old-spec Hilux and tried destroying it. Yes, he tried to destroy it. What it came down to was him driving the bakkie against trees, scraping it against walls, and even sinking it to the depths of the ocean. Okay, that last one is a push, but it did happen.

After every 'big test', Clarkson would attempt starting the bakkie again, hoping that it would not start. Sadly for the presenter, the Hilux kept coming back. The engine would fire to life after every painstaking test. Clarkson and his fellow presenters, James May and Richard Hammond, all gave it a go at breaking the Hilux's spirit, but no luck.


 
Refreshed Toyota Hilux's uprated engine to match Ranger for torque?

A fresh report out of Australia claims the facelifted Toyota Hilux’s uprated 2,8-litre turbodiesel will match the Ford Ranger’s five-cylinder unit in the torque stakes.

In March 2020, a report said the Japanese bakkie’s mid-cycle update would include a power hike for the four-cylinder oil-burner that currently generates 130 kW (plus 420 N.m in manual guise or 450 N.m in automatic form).

Now a follow-up story from CarsGuide.com.au suggests Toyota will hand its 2,8-litre engine an extra 20 kW and 20 N.m, taking the self-shifting model's peak outputs to around 150 kW and 470 N.m.

 
Toyota Hilux facelift: 'leaked' images show updated bakkie's fresh look?

The facelifted Toyota Hilux's new look has seemingly been revealed after fresh “leaked” images of the updated bakkie were published online.

The images first appeared on Milele Motors, and – if they turn out to be accurate – suggest the refreshed Japanese bakkie will gain a thoroughly updated front end inspired by its Tacoma and Tundra cousins over in North America.

According to the website, new LED headlamps are also on the cards, while lower-spec models will stick with halogen items. Judging by the images, the Hilux will furthermore gain distinctive new taillamps. New alloy wheels and exterior paint colours (the latter shown in the image embedded below) are also expected.


949907948_4.jpg949907948_3.jpg949907948_1.jpg949907948_2.jpgimage_preview.jpeg
 
Refreshed Toyota Hilux, Fortuner delayed by at least a month – report

A new report out of the Philippines suggests the facelifted Toyota Hilux and Fortuner have been delayed by at least a month.

According to a document obtained by AutoIndustriya.com, the Japanese firm’s Thai arm had originally planned to start production of the upgraded Hilux and Fortuner in May 2020. However, with its factories shuttered thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, production of these facelifted models will be pushed back by at least a month, says the report.

 
Toyota Hilux facelift: updated bakkie previewed in fresh renders

A digital artist from Brazil has released a handful of renders showing what the facelifted Toyota Hilux bakkie could look like.

Renato Aspromonte created the renderings for @overboostbr, clearly drawing inspiration from seemingly leaked images published online late in April 2020.

Like the revised Hilux that appeared in those images, Aspromonte’s interpretation sees the bakkie gain a thoroughly updated front end similar to those of its Tacoma and Tundra cousins over in North America.

While the first render shows the popular double-cab bakkie with a chrome-effect grille surround and a new LED signature, the second image gives us an idea what a lower-spec version of the facelifted eighth-generation Hilux would look like with black trim, halogen headlamps and deleted foglamps.

Another render, meanwhile, shows the rear of the bakkie, complete with a fresh taillamp design (again, inspired by those “leaked” images).


Hilux 1.jpgHilux 2.jpgHilux 3.jpg
 
Toyota Hilux facelift: fresh (low-res) leak shows new GR Sport variant?

Fresh low-resolution images seemingly showing the GR Sport version of the facelifted Toyota Hilux have emerged online.

The apparent leak – which looks like it originated from a dealer presentation or similar and which we first saw on Malaysian website WapCar – comes about a month after we had our first unofficial look at the refreshed Japanese bakkie.

While these latest images are (also) frustratingly low quality, they do appear to show a more aggressive design for what is presumably the mid-cycle-update version of the flagship GR Sport model.

The supposed Gazoo Racing-branded version gains a blacked-out grille (a treatment extended to its chunky surrounds), black wheel-arch extensions, black side-mirror caps, a more prominent front skid plate and larger (black-finished) alloy wheels.

Other leaked slides show the facelifted Hilux’s range of new wheel designs as well as a blurry look at the bakkie’s updated cabin.


Hilux 1.jpgHilux 2.jpgHilux 3.jpgHilux 4.jpg
 
Wait, what? Wrecked Toyota Hilux spotted cruising down the road

This cellphone footage from Thailand shows a thoroughly wrecked Toyota Hilux bakkie happily cruising down the road.

The short clip was captured in the city of Chiang Rai and shows a severely damaged version of what looks like a sixth-generation Hilux cruising down a dual carriageway, much to the amusement of those filming.


 
Refreshed Toyota Hilux bakkie: new teaser video confirms more power!

Toyota has released a short teaser video confirming the facelifted Hilux will gain extra oomph from its 2,8-litre turbodiesel engine.

The 31-second clip, which was posted on YouTube by Toyota’s division in Europe, shows Toyota Gazoo Racing driver Fernando Alonso sampling a camouflaged version of the refreshed double-cab bakkie.

Overlaid text promises the updated Hilux will be “even more powerful”, confirming an earlier report. As a reminder, the four-cylinder oil-burner currently generates 130 kW, plus 420 N.m in manual guise and 450 N.m in automatic form.

After showing Alonso putting the refreshed Hilux through its paces (between clips of the Spaniard blasting along in the race-spec bakkie built for Dakar), the video ends with the words “coming soon”. While the Japanese firm has yet to confirm a reveal date, rumours out of Thailand suggest the bakkie will be unveiled on 4 June.

Toyota does, however, say the Hilux gains “revised suspension geometry to maintain its reputation for world-class quality, durability and reliability”.

“Hilux is an icon and I’ve always been a fan. It was good to test the new Hilux in a challenging environment and to push it to the limits. The new engine behaves well and the new suspension feels great. Even when you push it, the comfort is still there,” Alonso added after the drive.



Hilux.JPG
 
Refreshed Toyota Hilux shows its face early in new leaked images!

Low-resolution images of the facelifted Toyota Hilux have emerged online ahead of the refreshed bakkie’s official unveiling in Thailand.

Posted by @almuraba on Instagram, the photographs give us our best look yet at the updated Japanese bakkie’s new face.

As suggested by earlier leaks, the Hilux’s revised nose is dominated by a redesigned grille, complete with an oversized Toyota logo and chunky surrounds (here in grey). There are also revised foglamps and new air-intakes.

The second and third images appear to have been taken while examples of the facelifted bakkie were being transported on a truck. They provide further glimpses of the updated front and rear ends (and the new wheels), although in each case the lights are covered.

Toyota recently released a short teaser video confirming the facelifted Hilux will gain extra oomph from its 2,8-litre turbodiesel engine. As a reminder, the four-cylinder oil-burner currently generates 130 kW, plus 420 N.m in manual guise and 450 N.m in automatic form.

Meanwhile, a report out of Thailand claims this oil-burning engine in the Fortuner (and, by extension, in the Hilux) will feature increased outputs of 150 kW and 500 N.m.


Hilux 1.jpgHilux 2.jpgHilux 3.jpg
 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X