Toyota HiLux GR Sport ruled out for Australia

The Toyota HiLux GR Sport has been ruled out for Australia any time soon, but other upgrades to the top-selling ute are underway as the brand prepares for the launch of the all-new 2022 Ford Ranger due mid-year.

Even a powered-up model could be under consideration as Toyota faces up to the new Ranger’s 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6.

The HiLux GR Sport has been revealed as the new flagship of the HiLux line-up in Thailand, Japan and – most recently – in Europe.

While there are differences between the three GR Sport models shown so far, they all have suspension retuning and new cosmetics but no power hike for their turbo-diesel engines.

The latter point appears to be the one that’s working against the GR-branded ute being imported to Australia.

Still, given the insatiable Aussie appetite for utes, especially top-end dual-cab 4x4s, and Toyota’s increasing use of the GR Sport badge (now seen in Australia with the C-HR and LandCruiser, for example), there is a valid argument to add it to the local line-up.

But Toyota Australia sales and marketing supremo Sean Hanley has ruled it out, pointing to the locally-developed Toyota HiLux Rogue and Rugged X as fulfilling the company’s needs. At least for now.

“We have the Rugged X and Rogue right now and other markets don’t necessarily have that extensive model line-up on top our normal HiLux model line-up,” Hanley told carsales.

“So at this stage we don’t have any plans for the GR Sport.

“The other thing to bear in mind is there are no engine modifications on those vehicles from what I have read. I am pretty sure I am right on that, so when you look at our Rugged X and Rogue models, they are kind of fulfilling that area right now.

“But we never rule these things out, we continue to look at the market demands are and what we can bring to market.”

Hanley confirmed the 2022 arrival of the new Ford Ranger was a focus for Toyota Australia and what new-model responses that might require.

The HiLux only just held off the current PXIII Ranger to retain top-seller status in Australia for the sixth year in a row in 2021. In fact, more 4x4 Rangers were sold, the Toyota’s dominance of the 4x2 segment proving critical.

“It’s a very close race and will continue to be,” said Hanley. “Ford is certainly providing a lot of competition which is healthy.

“Let me tell you we won’t be surrendering our market leadership of that segment easily, so I think that gives you a clue to where our thinking is.

“We will always be evolving the product, we will always be looking at how we enhance the product.”

Toyota has also upgraded its local R&D capabilities and walked media through its new facilities in December. At that time, local product planning and development boss Rod Ferguson was clear more HiLux developments were in the pipeline.

Intriguingly, Toyota Australia did trademark the ‘GR HiLux’ name in Australia in 2019. That would suggest a full-blown performance model to take on the Ranger Raptor with higher-grade suspension and added engine power and torque.

But Hanley dismissed that of being any significance.

“We trademarked the name GR but that’s not abnormal for us, we do that in always Australia, y’know, speculation and planning. It’s part of our intellectual property.”