A next generation Toyota HiLux GR Sport The flagship is expected to join the Japanese brand’s new ute range in the future and is expected to reintroduce a wider wheel track to improve ride and handling – like the previous version.
At a preview event for the new-generation HiLux, Toyota Australia’s chief designer Nicolas Hogios all but confirmed that the wide-track GR Sport would be introduced at some point.
“That’s probably in the future,” Mr Hogios told the Australian media in response to a question about a wide-track HiLux.
“But yeah, we’ll get to that – there’s enough news here at the moment,” he said, referring to the recently launched HiLux range.
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Above: Digital renderings courtesy of Theottle
While Toyota’s design boss said offering only narrow-gauge HiLux variants from launch was a “big departure” from the brand’s previous offering, he hinted there was more to come.
“Things can only get better from here. That’s why we’re constantly developing our product further.”
These digital renderings by artist Theottle give an idea of what the new generation HiLux GR Sport could look like.
While Sean Hanley, vice president of sales, marketing and franchise operations at Toyota Australia, acknowledged that the Gazoo Racing (GR) brand is an important part of the brand portfolio, he was less forthcoming when asked directly about a new HiLux GR Sport coming to market.
“Not at this stage,” Mr Hanley told Australian media Daily Sparkz.
“But you never know what can happen. GR is an important part of our brand range.”
In the previous HiLux range, Toyota has a wider track on the top model GR Sport as well as the Rogue and Rugged
All of this suggests that the GR Sport may be the only – or at least one of the few – HiLux variants to eventually get the wider chassis back, improving on-road driving dynamics and offering a tougher stance.
Owners of the previous HiLux GR Sport were treated to 135mm and 155mm wider front and rear wheel tracks respectively, as well as KYB monotube shock absorbers and a 15mm increased ride height.
The last HiLux GR Sport was also equipped with the same 2.8 liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine as other higher-spec models – but with a slight increase in output to 165 kW of power and 550 Nm of torque.
Whether this will be the case with the next GR Sport remains to be seen, but the new HiLux flagship almost certainly won’t match the 292kW/583Nm output of Ford’s hardcore Ranger Raptor, which accounts for up to 15 percent of all Ranger sales.
However, at $74,310 before on-road costs, the old HiLux GR Sport was much cheaper than the $90,000-plus Ranger Raptor and even more affordable than the Ranger Wildtrak.
MORE: Please visit the ToyotaHiLux showroom
