Toyota 'not concerned' about HiLux rivals

Toyota says it is not worried about competitors like the Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Triton and Mazda BT-50 – all of which will have been renewed or upgraded by the time it arrives in showrooms in October – encroaching on the new HiLux's turf.

Speaking at the world debut of the eighth-generation HiLux in Sydney today, Toyota Australia executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said a shift to lifestyle vehicles had made the light commercial vehicle market big enough for everyone.

"What's happening is the market's changing, so traditionally it was very much a workhorse-based tradie's tool of trade vehicle," he said.

"That is changing over time and what the customer's basically looking for now is a family-oriented vehicle as well as the tough WorkMate sort of working vehicle.

"So as a result the market has grown dramatically and we're attracting an almost SUV-like customer into these types of vehicles -- particularly the dual-cabs -- so the market is bigger for everyone."

However, HiLux 4x4 sales are down 2.2 per cent so far this year and 4x2 sales are off 1.9 per cent. While the HiLux 4x2's market share has increased year-to date, from 23.9 to 26.8 per cent, the one-tonner's slice of the much larger and more profitable 4x4 ute segment is down, from 21.6 to 19.4 per cent.

That's down from a high of more than 30 per cent in 2008, when the Ranger accounted for just 8.8 per cent of the 4x4 ute segment. Now it's a relatively close second to HiLux, at 16.1 per cent.

"Our volume is actually up," said Cramb. "Its closest competitor is actually 11,500 units away. That's almost 1000 units a month, so I'm not concerned in the short-term."

Toyota believes pent-up demand for the first all-new HiLux in more than a decade -- and the Japanese brand's enviable customer loyalty – will ensure it remains Australia's top-selling ute.

"There's half a million HiLuxes driving around Australian roads at the moment and there's an incredible sense of anticipation for this new vehicles," said Cramb.

Toyota believes the new HiLux has what it takes to continue the 17-year sales reign of its predecessors, which have averaged 20,000 annual sales since1968, 30,000 over the past decade and almost 40,000 in the past five years. In fact, the HiLux has been among Australia's top three most popular new vehicles bar none for seven of the past 10 years, finishing second in 2012.

Working against the HiLux, however, are a new breed of newer rivals, including the Ford Ranger and its mechanical twin, the Mazda BT-50 – both which will be facelifted in the third quarter of this year, as well as this month's redesigned Mitsubishi Triton and the all-new Nissan Navara, which goes on sale next month.

Cramb said the new HiLux's combination of a bigger body, larger cabin, improved dynamics, Australian-tuned chassis, more features, increased load and towing capacity, improved fuel efficiency, two new diesel engines and an expanded model range will keep it ahead of the one-tonne competition.

"So I think with the combination of a great new vehicle that will reset the benchmark in this segment plus a changing demographic that is predisposed to Toyota anyway in SUVs – and we dominate SUVs -- we're in pretty good shape.

All-important pricing and full specifications will not be revealed until closer to the October launch, but here's how the 2016 HiLux stacks up against its key competitors based on the technical overview announced by Toyota today.

Perhaps most importantly, braked braked towing capacity on top-spec versions has been increased to 3500kg (up 1000kg), matching the class-leading Ranger and new Navara and bettering the new Triton (3100kg). It's a similar story with fuel capacity, which is now 80 litres.

Leading the fresh HiLux engine line-up – now comprising two diesels and two petrol engines -- is a downsized new 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that offers 130kW/450Nm when matched to a new six-speed automatic, or 420Nm with a six-speed manual.

That's less than the Ranger’s 147kW/470Nm 3.2-litre five-cylinder oiler in both six-speed manual and auto form, but similar to the Navara’s new twin-turbo 140kW/450Nm 2.3-litre with both six-speed manual and seven-speed auto, and the new Triton’s 133kW/430Nm 2.4-litre with six-speed manual or five-speed auto.

HiLux 4x2s will be powered by a smaller-again 2.4-litre diesel offering 110kW/400Nm as an auto and 110kW/343Nm with a five-speed auto. Similarly, Ford's facelifted Ranger will come with an entry-level 118kW/385Nm 2.2-litre, while the Navara will offer a 120kW/403Nm single-turbo 2.3-litre.

While most rivals offer just one petrol engine, the new HiLux will continue with two, including a carryover 207kW 4.0-litre V6 and upgraded 122kW 2.7-litre petrol four. That's the same output as the current Ranger's 2.5-litre engine and the new Navara's 2.5, while the Triton is due to offer a 94kW 2.4 early next year.

Toyota is yet to reveal exact vehicle dimensions, but says the new HiLux dual-cab is 70mm longer, 20mm wider and slightly lower than the Mk5, which should make it about 75mm longer than the Navara and 50mm longer than the Triton, but 21mm shorter than the Ranger.

It should be a similar story with height, which could be similar to the Ranger's 1848mm, with the Navara at 1840mm and Triton 1780mm.

However, at 1855mm wide, the Mk8 HiLux should be 5mm broader than both Ranger and Navara, and 40mm wider than Triton.

The 2016 HiLux range will expanded to 31 variants – up from 23 – following the addition of more dual-cab, 4x4 and diesel versions, including a reintroduced entry-level WorkMate 4x4 variant and new Hi-Rider variants with 2WD, heavy-duty suspension and extra ride height.

Like its predecessor and all of its chief rivals there will be 4x4 and 4x2 drivetrains and three body styles (single-, extra-, and dual-cab), but in this case just three equipment grades (WorkMate, SR and SR5), although a born-again TRD range-topper could again join the range.

The current Ranger line-up features 37 variants and five equipment grades (XL, XL Super, XLS, XLT and Wildtrak) but just three engines, while the new Navara range will comprise 27 variants, three engines and four equipment grades (DX, RX, ST and ST-X). The 2016 Ttiton launched with 10 diesel variants and three equipment grades (GLX, GLS and Exceed), with petrol versions to come.

Top-spec HiLux models like the SR5 will come with a colour touch-screen infotainment screen, keyless starting and entry, factory air-conditioning, cruise control and door locks, 18-inch alloy wheels and the availability of LED headlights and daytime running lights.

The new HiLux will makes big strides in safety, with all models expected to come with a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating this time round, joining the Ranger, Triton and Mazda BT-50. The new Navara is yet to be tested.

Standard safety gear across the range will include a reversing camera, seven airbags, stability control, anti-lock brakes, hill start assist and emergency stop signal.

Toyota is known to have tested an automatic emergency braking system in the new HiLux, but it remains to be seen whether the technology will be offered in Australia.

It's also unclear if the HiLux will match first-in-class 2016 Ranger safety features like radar cruise control, drowsy driver warning system and lane departure warning with active lane-keeping assistance.

Just as many of these features are shared with Ford's closely related Everest SUV, which arrives here in September, all of the technical advances seen in the new Toyota ute will also be fitted to the all-new Fortuner -- the HiLux-based SUV due for local release early next year.

Before then, Toyota will release its updated Prius v (June), facelifted Camry (June), facelifted Aurion (July), facelifted Corolla hatch (July), upgraded Prado (August), updated 200 Series LandCruiser (October) and new Prius (early 2016).