Mid-life Hilux update pushed back

Tuesday, 5 May 2020

Toyota's mid-cycle update for the Hilux has been delayed due to factory closures caused by Covid-19.

The factories in Thailand are closed until at least May 7, meaning the Hilux refresh may now happen in October rather than late July, as originally planned. If the Thai government chooses to extend closure regulations, the new debut date could be even later.

According to reports, the update was set to bring a new look, more tech and a power bump to Toyota's ute in order to keep it competitive until the next generation bows around 2023 or 2024.

How the refreshed Hilux is rumoured to look. We may be waiting some time for it now.

There's no word on what the design changes will be, aside from some speculative renders, but the new tech should include infotainment upgrades including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Toyota already offers its Safety Sense package across the Hilux range as standard so there could be additional improvements on that front too.

**READ MORE:

Toyota's current Hilux has been around since 2015 and is due for an update. Unfortunately, we'll be waiting a bit longer for it.

* Hyundai's upcoming ute rendered

* Refreshed Hilux leaked online

* Toyota planning new turbodiesel V6 for GR Hilux

* Toyota Hilux to get power and tech boost

This is the Gladiator Concept from last year. Wonder if the GR Hilux could look a bit like this?

More luxury could come as well, with competition from Volkswagen's Amarok showing customers are willing to pay for a swankier interior. Hyundai could stoke that fire with its upcoming Santa Cruz lifestyle ute, although it's more likely Australia and New Zealand will take the workhorse-oriented offering instead.

As for under the hood, no figures were given but motoring.com.au says a 'modest' power increase can be expected for Toyota's longstanding 2.8-litre turbo diesel inline-four, bumping output above the current 130kW/450Nm (auto) and 130kW/420Nm (manual).

A fix for the engine's problematic diesel particulate filter (DPF) will almost certainly be a part of the new engine package.

Improved towing capacity could come as a result of the extra power, putting the Hilux on par with the dominant Ford Ranger.

With any luck, this will also be when Toyota reveals its Ranger Raptor competitor, the GR Hilux. It could come with a turbo diesel V6 with an output bettering the 200kW and 650Nm on offer from the current V8 diesel in the Land Cruiser 200 Series.

We already know that any Toyota vehicle given the 'GR' prefix will come with 'noticeable' performance upgrades, which aren't restricted to the powertrain alone.

That means we should expect a proper Raptor competitor on and off-road, as opposed to just a more powerful Hilux.

Stuff reached out to Toyota NZ to try shed some more light on the situation but hadn't had a response at the time of publication.

In terms of the next generation, it's expected the Hilux will join up with the larger Tundra on a unified platform. That could mean we see the Tundra selling in right-hand drive.

Hybrid powertrains are almost certainly coming as well. We won't see that for at least three more years, however.