The GR Hilux will likely take cues from the Dakar Rally truck.
Toyota now owns a trademark for GR Hilux in Australia. This could indicate that the company is working on a more powerful version of the pickup truck.
Toyota applied for the trademark July 20, 2019, and Australia granted the request February 18, 2020. A Search the World Intellectual Property Organization database It doesn’t appear that the automaker applied to reserve the moniker. So it could be an Australia-exclusive vehicle.
Cars guide from Australia reached out to Toyota regarding the GR Hilux. The company replied that although there are no plans at this time to introduce a GR Hilux, we wouldn’t rule it out in the future due to the high demand for high-performance utes.
Shigeki Toyama, Toyota Gazoo Racing’s boss, stated that he has been pushing for a GR Hilux. The truck would be inspired by the racing version of the truck from Dakar Rally.
The arrival date of the GR Hilux is unknown. The next-gen model is expected to arrive in 2023. There are also rumors that Toyota will unify the platform below the Hilux or Tacoma. If this happens, it would allow the company to sell the rugged truck here in North America.
Although it is a trim package, there’s an Hilux Sport in limited edition (gallery above), available in certain markets. Gazoo Racing has added a black grille, hood, and red foglight trim to the Hilux GR Sport. The wheels are 17 inches in diameter with a polished rim. Black running boards are available. The trucks are equipped with leather upholstery and red stitching inside. The turbodiesel engine produces 177 horsepower (132kilowatts) as well as 332 pound-feet (450 Newton meters) of torque. It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with a low-range trans case and locking differential. The suspension has been upgraded by the company.