DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: Tacoma is no HiLux

The covers are off Toyota's new Tacoma, but the all-new North American pick-up appears to provide few clues to the look of Toyota Australia's next HiLux.

An official video and images, released by Toyota overnight, shows the first new Tacoma since 2005 in all its glory, previewing the model ahead of its official public debut at this month's Detroit motor show (from January 12).

Toyota says its all-new mid-size utility will "take it to the next level" and it's expected to be based on an all-new ladder frame and chassis architecture, much of which could be shared with the new HiLux.

However, the Tacoma's new exterior appears to bear little resemblance to our next HiLux, if spy shots of the latter from earlier this year are guide.

As we've reported, Australia's new HiLux — which will again be imported from Thailand — is still due on sale here this year, but we now expect it to be released very late in 2015.

But there are obvious visual differences between the HiLux spied in southern Europe and the new Tacoma, which shares many styling attributes with the latest Kluger SUV, including the large hexagonal grille, different headlights and heavily flared wheel-arches.

Both the HiLux and Tacoma are dominant in the Australian and US markets respectively, but while the HiLux faces its most serious challenge for some time from Ford's Ranger and the upcoming Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton redesigns, the Tacoma's greatest threats are Chevrolet's new Colorado and its GMC twin, the Canyon.