New HiLux two weeks away

Toyota appears to have started the official countdown to its eighth-generation HiLux, if this Toyota advertisement published by www.hiluxrevothailand.com is any guide.

Headlined by the slogan 'Revolution is coming', the image suggests Toyota will unveil the hotly-anticipated replacement for Australia's top-selling ute in Thailand, where it will be produced, in just two weeks on May 22.

The same Thai enthusiast website previously revealed this official brochure image and the fact the larger new HiLux will bring a pair of downsized turbo-diesel engines: a 132kW 2.8-litre four-cylinder with 450Nm in six-speed automatic guise and 420Nm in six-speed manual form, and a 112/125kW 2.4-litre with 400Nm (auto) and 343Nm (manual).

So far there is no news from the site concerning petrol engines to replace the outgoing model's 2.7-litre four-cylinder and 4.0-litre V6 engines.

The latest news follows our first full look at the new HiLux inside and out, thanks to spy shots of the first undisguised vehicle posted by Facebook user Terranismo. That strongly indicated the 2.7-litre petrol four will continue, but the petrol V6 looks like it's canned.

Apart from the more rounded body shape including a pointier nose first revealed in spy shots published by Autoblog Greece, the new one-tonner's smoother exterior introduces a number of key design details.

They include prominent eyebrow-shaped LED daytime running lights, backswept headlights, broader wheel-arches, new alloy wheels and – at least on the high-spec dual-cab pictured here – chrome door-handles and mirror caps.

The Japanese one-tonner's new interior appears to be dominated by a large, freestanding tablet-style touch-screen on a redesigned dashboard, and a new four-spoke steering wheel.

The new HiLux has been snapped undergoing development testing numerous times, the most recent occasion suggesting an autonomous emergency braking system will be among its list of new driver aids.

Currently in run-out, the existing HiLux remains one of Australia's most popular vehicles outright, but its successor will face stiff competition from Ford's facelifted Ranger, Mazda's similarly upgraded BT-50, the new Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan's new Navara, all of which arrive here before the Toyota.

motoring.com.au understands the 2016 HiLux remains on target to go on sale in Thailand and other Asia-Pacific markets – including Australia – by the end of this year.

As we revealed in February, it will form the basis of the new Fortuner – an all-new seven-seat off-road SUV that will follow the HiLux on sale within months when it goes on sale in Australia for the first time early next year.