Finally! Here is the new Toyota Hilux
It has probably been one of the most anticipated reveals of the past few years, but finally, the eighth-generation Toyota Hilux has been unveiled.
It is one of, if not THE, most-loved car in South Africa…it has sold a million units here after all…16 million world wide since it first hit dealerships in 1968.
It has been completely redesigned both inside and out. Toyota has decided that it is not just the Hilux that is so ‘tough’ but rather the people inside and so the new Hilux is now more occupant focused and easier to drive.
“To truly understand what our customers expect from us and the challenges they face on a daily basis, our development teams travelled the globe from Caracas to Kommetjie, getting direct feedback from customers and driving on a wide variety of different roads to get a feel for different usage conditions. To gain inspiration for the eighth-generation Hilux, the development team drove in conditions ranging from rough, muddy forests to deserts with temperatures exceeding 50°C and flooded roads in the rainy season. Sometimes they came up against even harsher conditions than expected, which brought home the need to develop an even tougher Hilux.”
And so, the new Hilux boasts ride comfort that makes long, tough drives less grueling, a quiet cabin and enhanced cruising range.
As explained by Hiroki Nakajima, the executive chief engineer behind the Hilux (and also a managing officer of Toyota Motor Corporation): “Our entire development concept was centered on ‘redefining toughness’. We aimed to make the new Hilux ‘tougher’ based on a much broader interpretation of that word. The message we want to deliver to our customers is embodied in our slogan for the vehicle: ‘A New Era for Pickup. Every Inch a Hilux.'”
This is echoed by Calvyn Hamman, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Toyota SA: “It’s instantly recognisable as a Hilux, it feels like a Hilux, it drives like a Hilux- only better. Successfully melding innovation, sophistication and extrovert design with fanatical reliability, the all-new Hilux will be the benchmark. The Legend is set to continue.”
The all-new Hilux launches in South Africa during the first quarter of 2016. Full local range and specs will be disclosed closer to launch timing.