The first images of the next-generation Toyota Hilux have been leaked ahead of the vehicle’s official unveiling.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the new Hilux is one of, if not the most, anticipated car launches in South Africa.
After all, it is the most popular vehicle in the country, outperforming bakkies and passenger cars alike with thousands of examples making their way into business fleets and private garages every month.
However, the fact remains that the current-gen Hilux is getting long in the tooth, and motorists are eager to say what the world’s largest carmaker has in store for them this time around.
Toyota has, understandably, been keeping a tight lid on its most high-profile product, but it appears that the first images of the pickup have started to appear online.
The Thai publication Headline Magazine recently shared images alleged to have come from a brochure for the new Hilux, giving us a glimpse of what the interior and exterior could look like.
Taking things to the next level
Based on these images, it appears that Toyota wanted to modernize the Hilux while maintaining its very distinctive profile.
The general proportions are more muscular, which is keeping in line with the trend we’ve seen with the newest versions of bakkies like the Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton.
Other examples include the BYD Shark and the upcoming Kia Tasman, both of which have a rather boxy aesthetic.
The wheel arches are a little more angular, and you can trace distinctive lines all along the side of the body, giving it an upmarket touch.
The front end has an updated grille with a new set of LED headlights complemented by slim daytime running lights.
An intriguing detail is that the photos seem to show GR badges at the front and back, implying we can expect a new GR-Sport model at some point in the future.
What’s even more interesting is the interior, which appears to be loosely based on the new Toyota Prado SUV.
The centre console looks like it was lifted straight out of the Prado, with an identical gearstick and layout for a wireless phone charger, cupholders, armrest, and driving mode buttons.
It also has a similar hexagonal shape in the lower dashboard for the climate control buttons.
The dash appears to have a large housing unit for a digital instrument cluster, though one difference between the Hilux and Prado is that the former has a free-standing infotainment screen, whereas the screen is integrated alongside the driving gauge on the SUV.
As a side note, it’s fair to assume that the next-gen Toyota Fortuner will have a near-identical design, considering it shares a platform with the Hilux bakkie.
The company has provided no information on the new vehicle’s drivetrain, but we imagine that the familiar 2.8-litre turbocharged diesel engine has a pretty good chance of making a return.
This powertrain develops 150kW and 500Nm, and the Hilux will undoubtedly be made available in single and double cab forms with a choice of rear-wheel and four-wheel-drive configurations.
To get a better sense of what the new bakkie could look like, we asked the TopAuto multimedia team to create a rendering of the Hilux based on the leaked images.
Please note that the following images are speculative and are not official media published by Toyota Motors.
TopAuto render of what the next-gen Toyota Hilux could look like
Loading ...
