Tougher new Toyota HiLux GR Sport just months away

The top-selling Toyota HiLux ute range currently tops out at under $70,000 for the locally-developed Rugged X flagship, but the Japanese giant could soon have an answer for top-shelf $80K dual-cab 4x4 utes like the new Volkswagen Amarok W580S and upcoming Ford Ranger Raptor X.

A fresh report from Japan insists the hard-core 2022 Toyota HiLux GR Sport will be released in Japan in October, bringing more serious off-road suspension tuned by Gazoo Racing and a range of other mechanical and cosmetic upgrades.

According to Mag-X, via fellow Japanese website Creative Trend, unlike the Rugged X the HiLux GR Sport will bring upgraded “sports suspension” developed by GR to “greatly improve” its off-road capability.

Not to be confused with the full-fat Toyota GR HiLux, which could be powered by a busty 690Nm 3.3-litre V6 turbo-diesel or even a 310kW twin-turbo 3.5-litre petrol V6 but will have to wait until the next-generation HiLux due in 2024, the HiLux GR Sport will bring no engine upgrades for the standard four-cylinder turbo-diesel.

In Japan, that means the same 110kW/400Nm 2.4-litre diesel, while Australia’s version would continue with the upgraded 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre diesel introduced with the facelifted 2020 Toyota HiLux range last August.

However, differentiating the HiLux GR Sport, which would join the Toyota C-HR GR Sport that launched Toyota’s ‘GR-lite’ sub-brand in Australia last November, will be a range of sporty design upgrades.

Likely to include many of the GR Parts revealed for the HiLux in Japan last October (pictured), they should comprise a GR-branded grille, body-coloured wheel-arch flares, unique 18-inch alloy wheels with 265/60 all-terrain tyres and, inside, GR-badged gearshift and handbrake boots, and brushed-metal pedals and air-vent trims.

New tech will reportedly include power-adjustable front seats and a 360-degree camera, in addition to existing safety features like autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition.

Toyota introduced a GR Sport version of the HiLux in South American markets in 2018, but a replacement based on the facelifted 2020 model is yet to be released.

Toyota Australia previously told carsales it is keen to introduce high-performance GR or GR Sport versions of the HiLux – Australia’s top-selling vehicle for the past five years – given the unprecedented demand for dual-cab 4x4 utes Down Under, where premium versions like the SR5 are the most popular.

However, it says the HiLux GR Sport is not on its radar at the moment, but would be strongly considered for local release should it become available globally.

That could happen sooner rather than later given Australia is one of the world’s biggest pick-up markets, and the fact the Ford Ranger outsold the HiLux last month as the Blue Oval brand continues to roll out new variants in the lead-up to the global reveal of the all-new Ford Ranger later this year.