
Toyota has given South Africa’s best-selling vehicle the dynamic GR-Sport treatment, highlighted by an exclusive design, improved handling, and an uprated engine.
The Hilux is the third model to be launched in the country under the GR-Sport moniker, the first being the Land Cruiser 300 in September 2021 followed by the Corolla Cross that landed in dealers this August.
The sporty double cab is available in one spec only at a starting price of R865,400, carrying Toyota’s 3-year/100,000km warranty and 9-services/90,000km service plan.
Beefed up body
The Hilux is beefed up in this athletic trim wearing a large black grille featuring a horizontal crossbar emblazoned with Toyota badging, bespoke 17-inch alloys, wider overfenders, a GR-branded rear styling bar, and black mirror caps, door handles, and side steps.
It also gets tyres with a taller profile for enhanced off-road performance, and the LED headlights have been given their own special-edition touch.
Meanwhile, optional side decals and one of four GR-specific exterior colours comprising Arizona Red, Attitude Black, Glacier White, and Graphite Grey round off the customisation list.
For the cabin, design changes include a new instrument cluster with metallic bezels and red needles, a model-specific leather steering wheel sporting red needlework, aluminium shifter paddles, carbon fibre trim finishes with red accents, and a push-start button with GR branding.
Additionally, the “racing-inspired” front seats get Alcantara inserts, GR badges on the headrests, and red accent panels.
Standard fitment mimics that of the range-topping Legend trim with the addition of an around-view monitor, but the removal of the JBL sound system and auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
Of course, the Toyota Safety Sense assistance suite is also included bringing adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, a pre-collision system, ABS with brake assist, and hill assist control.
Under the hood
The GR-Sport tag normally only means cosmetic and handling enhancements, but for this popular bakkie, it also includes an uprated power unit.
Via special ECU calibration, the 2.8-litre, turbo-diesel motor has been given an extra 15kW and 50Nm to now put out a total of 165kW and 550Nm.
This is matched with part-time four-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic gearbox with auto LSD functions, giving the Hilux GR-Sport a top speed of 175km/h and a combined fuel usage of 8.0l/100km.
Toyota said it gets to 100km/h 0.65 seconds quicker than the Legend, too, though the automaker did not reveal how fast either of them will finish the sprint.
Before shipping the new Hilux to dealers improved ride and handling were then a mandatory requirement and this was achieved by fitting new monotube shock absorbers paired with stiffer coil springs.
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