Updated Toyota HiLux officially teased
F1 ace shown driving updated Toyota ute; upgraded 2.8-litre diesel and revised suspension confirmed as headline improvementsThe upgraded Toyota HiLux is almost ready to roll and to prove it, the Japanese car-maker has released a video of its refreshed ute being tested off-road by two-times F1 champion, Fernando Alonso.
The short film, showing the former F1 ace driving the 2021 Toyota HiLux briskly over dirt roads, is our first official glimpse of the replacement for Australia's top-selling vehicle ahead of its arrival later this year.
Originally due in Australian showrooms in July, the facelifted Ford Ranger rival is now expected to arrive here by September, when it will bring a more aggressive front-end design that's mostly hidden under camouflage here.
But the big news is confirmation the updated Toyota HiLux will come with an upgraded 2.8-litre turbo-diesel that will offer more power and finally a fix for the current model's DPF issues.
There's no official word, but some reports are suggesting outputs of up to 150kW and 470Nm -- up from 130kW/420Nm (450Nm for the auto). Whether the manual's towing capacity increases from 3200kg to 3500kg, matching the auto and its chief rivals, remains to be seen.
Other improvements for the best-selling Toyota include revised suspension and an updated interior to push the HiLux more upmarket, finally including creature comforts like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, which is now commonplace in most family hatchbacks.
Claimed to be the most significant change to the Toyota pick-up since its launch in 2015, the revised HiLux is expected to stay on sale until it's replaced in 2024. Beyond that, for the first time, Toyota will introduce a hybrid powertrain for the HiLux.
Naturally, Toyota's Le Mans winner Alonso -- who drove the HiLux as part of preparations for the 2020 Dakar Rally, which he will once again contest with the car-maker's Gazoo Racing team -- came away a impressed by the updated ute.
"The HiLux is an icon and I’ve always been a fan," he said. "It was good to test the new HiLux in a challenging environment and to push it to the limits. The new engine behaves well and the new suspension feels great. Even when you push it, the comfort is still there.”
Watch this space for the full official reveal of the 2021 Toyota HiLux in coming days.
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