GLOBAL REVEAL OF NEW TOYOTA HILUX

2015 reveal of Toyota HiLux (SR5 double cab pre-production model shown).

It may surprise people who aren’t into cars that pickup trucks are huge sellers in Australia these days. Indeed, the boss-of-the wash Toyota HiLux has been number one on the Australian market no fewer than 13 times since first achieving that seemingly impossible result in April 2008. That’s not number one in its class, it’s top spot in the overall sales race of all vehicles.

The chief reason for pickup popularity is the boom in so-called ‘sports utes’; dressed up dual-cabs, with huge wheels, big bullbars, even bigger bars over the load tray, lots of optional extras – and price tags in the $70,000 range. That’s right, 70 grand for a pickup!

Keen to take advantage of this change in buyer emphasis Toyota has aimed its just-announced all-new HiLux at a spot somewhere between a full-on light commercial and a passenger 4WD.

The about to be superseded HiLux has built up a reputation for being rough ‘n’ tough and all-but unbreakable. However, the current vehicle is on the crude side compared to its newer rivals as it dates back 10 years, not an unusual life cycle for trucks.

2015 reveal of Toyota HiLux (SR5 double cab pre-production model shown).

As the all-new HiLux isn’t due downunder till October and significantly newer models from competitors are nipping at its wheels, Toyota Australia carried out a major reveal of the HiLux in Sydney to coincide with the pickup’s global reveal in Thailand – where it is built.

Toyota is famed for its marketing ability, which has won it overall number one in Australia for more years than competitors care to consider. So it was no shortage of theatre in the HiLux presentation by Toyota’s Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, Tony Cram.

Only one vehicle was displayed, a brilliant blue SR5 dual-cab sporty variant. It had its windows blacked out so we couldn’t see inside. The slightly weak excuse on the hidden interior was that it wasn’t to exact Australian specifications. May we suggest that Toyota Oz is planning an interior reveal in a few months time in order to keep publicity bubbling along?

Anyhow on to the all-new HiLux SR5‘s body. It’s big and bold without being outrageously so. The grille certainly stands out and the way its shape wraps around into the lights gives a feeling of bulk buyers will appreciate. A lot of attention has been paid to the lower areas of the front, with distinctive cutouts for the foglights, and a large central air intake. The guards have a pumped shape that’s tall and nicely squared off.

2015 reveal of Toyota HiLux (SR5 double cab pre-production model shown).

Interestingly, there’s even a touch of style at the rear edges of the back doors. Not an area that normally receives any real attention, but given the pickup for the family aspirations it makes sense to add a bit of style on the side.

There will be the usual body options: single-cab, extra-cab and dual-cab. Power gives buyers a choice between two diesel and two petrol engine, these will ether be new units or heavily reworked existing powerplants. Transmission will be six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.

Drive will be to the rear wheel only, or to all four wheels.

New Toyota HiLux will go on sale in Australia at a date yet to be set in October this year. We will bring Australian specifications and pricing then. Toyota says there will be 31 variants, well up from the current 23 choices. It’s likely many of the newcomers will be aimed at the sports ute and family SUV buyers. Stay tuned.

About Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy, a long-time car enthusiast, was Technical Research Librarian with the NRMA from 1970 until 1985. He worked part-time as a freelance motoring journalist from 1977 until 1985, when he took a full-time position as Technical Editor with Modern Motor magazine. Late in 1987 he left to set up a full-time business as a freelance motoring journalist. Ewan is an associate member of the Society of Automotive Engineers - International. An economy driving expert, he set the Guinness World Record for the greatest distance travelled in a standard road vehicle on a single fuel fill. He lists his hobbies as stage acting, travelling, boating and reading.
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