Toyota confirms HiLux GR Sport for Oz

TOYOTA Australia has confirmed it will launch a hardcore GR Sport version of the HiLux ute from the second half of 2023 as a replacement for the Rugged X range-topper.

Speculation about the GR Sport’s powertrain is rife but given the availability of a high-output version of the existing 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder in overseas markets suggests a similar tune could be offered in the Australian flagship.

The high-boost unit with enhanced inlet and exhaust plumbing outputs 165kW/550Nm elsewhere, or 15kW/50Nm more than is offered throughout the current Australian HiLux range.

If offered here, it will make HiLux the most powerful and torque-rich four-cylinder turbo-diesel ute on the market.

Unfortunately, the dream of many HiLux owners that six-cylinder power might become available does not look like materialising, despite the fact both Volkswagen and Ford offer a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel option in their new Amarok and Ranger models.

Toyota appears to be taking a more measured path towards performance utes, and will soon offer the wide-body HiLux Rogue locally.

Bigger disc brakes all round, a rear stabiliser bar, 140mm-wider tracks front and rear with extended driveshafts and suspension/steering links, 20mm raised ride height and other upgrades promise to make the new HiLux Rogue a better vehicle both off- and on-road.

As a result of the suspension changes, roll rigidity has been enhanced by 20 per cent, which is said to improve steering feel when cornering and changing lanes.

The changes encompass features that HiLux owners have procured from aftermarket suppliers and providers in the past.

However, Toyota Australia has the advantage of a local HiLux “skunk works” that continually develops the vehicle, tests new products and features locally and evaluates their worth for possible inclusion on Australia’s most popular vehicle.

These changes will flow through to both Rogue and the GR Sport models, the latter expected to score the upgraded engine but still no V6.

No word on likely pricing of the GR Sport HiLux – or wide-body Rogue – has yet emerged from Toyota Australia, though estimates place the model close to that of Ford’s Ranger Raptor, which sells from $85,490 before on-road costs.

Pitching its four-cylinder GR HiLux Sport against the likes of the Amarok and Ranger Wildtrak V6 – and the turbo-petrol V6 Ranger Raptor – could pose a marketing problem for Toyota, particularly in the light of other competitors that include Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior and the forthcoming Mitsubishi Triton Ralliart that are available at a lower price point.

News of the GR HiLux Sport comes off the back of a sales purple patch for the HiLux that has recorded some of its strongest monthly sales results ever in the past six months.

Development of the new Rogue and GR Sport are a continuation of what some describe as Toyota’s drip-feed “democratisation” of equipment, a policy that starts with the top-of-the-range variants then, over time, filters down to other models.

Toyota Australia’s vice president of sales, marketing and franchise operations, Sean Hanley, said the introduction of the updated HiLux demonstrated Toyota's dedication to offering ever-improved vehicles for customers.

“Continuous improvement is a key facet of Toyota's philosophy and has been clearly achieved by this latest HiLux model,” the company said in a statement.

Coinciding with the arrival of the wide-bodied HiLux Rogue this year, Toyota is introducing upgrades to core variants of Australia's best-selling vehicle.

HiLux SR extra-cab and double-cab models receive new black 17-inch alloy rims (they substitute steel wheels) and body-coloured door handles have been adopted for a more premium look.

SR5 double-cab pick-ups gain extra active safety equipment as standard, with the addition of a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert. These features are also included on the Rogue.

A panoramic view monitor has been added to SR5 double-cab pick-ups to help manoeuvre in tight spaces, as have puddle lamps, which replace heated exterior mirrors.

The steering column lock has been replaced by an ID Box anti-theft immobiliser on automatic SR5 grades and above, which adds an extra level of security when starting the car with the smart key.