The new flagship of the Toyota HiLux range was caught on camera in Thailand late last year wearing little disguise. Now we have created an artist impression of what it could look like.
Last month we got our first look at a camouflaged version of the 2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport, the flagship ute set to replace the range-topping Toyota HiLux Rugged X in Australian showrooms later this year.
Now we have artist impressions of the 2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport (pictured above) that aim to remove some of the camouflage of the test vehicle caught on camera in Thailand in mid-December 2022.
As previously reported, although other versions of the Toyota HiLux GR Sport have been launched in Europe, South Africa and Japan over the past year or so, the 2023 edition appears to be the most aggressive yet.
The latest Toyota HiLux GR Sport is set to come to Australia for the first time, though timing of the international unveiling and showroom arrivals are yet to be announced.
A series of photos published last month on social media platform Instagram by the highly-regarded Kurdistan_Automotive_Blog – which has a reputation for posting spy-photo scoops – showed a lightly-camouflaged Toyota HiLux being driven on a main road in Thailand (where examples of the HiLux sold in Australia are manufactured).
It is clear in the images the Toyota HiLux being tested has the same wider track and extended wheel arch flares that debuted with the other flagship in the range – the Toyota HiLux Rogue – in Australia in recent months.
The wider bodywork – and wider footprint – coincided with a major suspension overhaul front and rear, 70mm-wider axles, and the fitment of four-wheel disc brakes.
As part of the suspension overhaul, there are new lower control arms for the front suspension, and the rear shock absorbers have been moved outboard from the rear chassis rails for better stability on bumpy roads (as is the case with both Volkswagen Amarok generations and the new Ford Ranger).
The photos show the 2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport tested is equipped with an aggressive all-terrain tyre and a new wheel design (which remains under wraps for now).
Although the new front bumper and grille are masked heavily, the camouflage does little to disguise the bold new design and prominent underbdy “bash plate”.
If the 2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport follows the styling theme of other variants, the grille will have T-O-Y-O-T-A lettering rather than an oval logo badge.
It is unclear why Toyota has added two lines of tape above the headlights and across the bonnet; it’s possible this was designed to make it look less like a HiLux, and disguise the prominence of the new grille.
The vehicle in the photos has a strip of tape on the front doors, and a larger section of tape on the right side of the tailgate – where GR Sport badges are found on the current versions of the HiLux GR Sport sold overseas.
Power output for the 2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport is yet to be disclosed, however in South Africa a previous top-end model delivered a power bump for the 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel from 150kW/500Nm to 165kW/550Nm.
There has been speculation overseas the 2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport could be equipped with a turbo diesel V6 engine, however this is unlikely given the extra cost of a new round of emissions tests – and the engineering work needed to package the engine – so late in the current model’s lifecycle.
The current-generation Toyota HiLux is more than seven years old, after launching locally in August 2015.
If history is a guide, the next-generation Toyota HiLux is due in late 2025 or early 2026.
For now it is unclear if the significant underbody changes to the 2023 Toyota HiLux Rogue and 2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport will in fact form the basis of the next-generation Toyota HiLux. It would mean the next model could simply be a new “top hat” (industry-speak for new bodywork over an existing chassis).
Or, it is possible Toyota is doubling-down on improvements to its icon HiLux models three years out from the next model to keep it fresh amid tough new competition from ride and handling benchmarks the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok.
