The new Toyota Hilux will be revealed in Thailand on Monday.
Image: Toyota Motor Thailand Facebook
The cat is out of the bag with the much-speculated new Toyota Hilux bakkie set for its global reveal in Thailand on Monday.
In an entry on its social media pages over the weekend, Toyota Motor Thailand showed “sneak” pictures revealing slimmer headlights, C-shaped LED rear lights, and a retro-style “Toyota” badge on the front grille.
It looks like there are sharper, more modern design cues, and although it’s a massive update over the model it is set to replace, Toyota hasn’t tinkered too much, and it looks like the door and roof panels will be continued from the model that’s been on sale since 2015.
Reports suggest that it will continue to be built on the IMV platform rather than as initially thought, the newer TNGA-F platform that underpins the Tacoma, Prado and 300 Series.
With the current model’s interior starting to show its age, expect massive upgrades to the new Hilux.
The dashboard will feature a completely new layout, including a large touchscreen infotainment system, possibly based on the new Prado and also a digital driver’s display.
Although still to be confirmed, it looks like the 2.4 GD-6 diesel and 2.7-litre petrol engine will fall away, and the 2.8 GD-6 mill, including the 48-Volt mild hybrid, will be the only engine choices available.
Interestingly, the 2.7-litre mill is rumoured to be the only engine being considered for the new FJ-Series, revealed at the Tokyo Mobility Show last week.
The 2.8-litre engine produces 150kW and 500Nm, and in GR Sport spec, 165kW and 550Nm.
It’s unlikely that the current automatic gearbox will be discarded, but time will tell as the eight-speed auto fitted to the Prado could feature.
There’s also no confirmation of whether Toyota will be offering the full range of body styles currently on offer.
The new Hilux will most likely go into production at the Prospecton Plant in Durban next year, although Toyota SA are mum at this stage.
The Hilux bakkie has been a perennial favourite and best seller in South Africa for more than 50 years. Globally, Hilux has sold an estimated 23 million units, and locally, an estimated 1.2 million Hilux vehicles have been sold to date.
Whatever Toyota reveals, I don’t think we can expect anything ground-breaking or outrageous because it’s a recipe that has worked for decades and no doubt will continue to be a South African bakkie icon.
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