KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 — Toyota Australia has just announced the official release of its new 2015 Toyota Hilux, mooted to be the toughest Hilux ever, yet it is more refined than even some of the more advanced cars on the market.
Australia is the ‘spiritual’ home of the new Hilux, being the home base of development, which, together with Toyota’s impressive global advances, aimed at enabling the Hilux to conquer the most severe operating conditions in Australia. Development work was spread over a six-year period with more than 1.0 million kilometres of testing, with 650,000 kilometres done in Australia alone.
Almost every aspect of the eighth-generation Hilux has been strengthened, including a thicker frame, stiffer body, new high-torque turbo-diesel engines, advanced six-speed transmissions, beefed-up suspension and brakes, and expanded off-road ability.
Towing capacity is now up to 3.5 tonnes and payloads are up to 1240kg with 23 of the new Hilux’s 31 variants confirmed as genuine one-tonners, including all 4x2 variants and all 4x4 single and extra cabs.
(Note: Australian Hilux vehicles include wooden decks, steel and aluminium decks for tradesmen usage).
At the same time, the latest Hilux offers SUV-like features including a more compliant ride, quieter cabins and higher levels of comfort and convenience with standard air-conditioning, touch-screen display audios, cruise control, more supportive seats and power-operated windows, mirrors and door locks.
With features that are found on SUV’s, the Hilux is offering an alternative as a ‘do-it-all’ vehicle for families.
The new Hilux also has a new rugged suspension package, enhanced under body protection, and electronic control systems tuned for more effective operation on gravel and during off-road driving.
A new family of high-torque turbo-diesel engines is headed by a 2.8-litre version with maximum torque of up to 450Nm — a gain of 25 per cent compared with the previous 3.0-litre engine.
Its 2.4-litre sibling also generates higher torque of up to 400Nm.
Toyota anticipates the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating across the range with a reversing camera on all pick-ups (accessory camera available on cab-chassis models), seven airbags including driver’s knee protection, vehicle stability and traction control, anti-skid brakes with brake assist, and trailer sway control.
A wide range of Toyota Genuine accessories — including many produced for the first time — have been developed in tandem with new Hilux, including airbag-compatible bull bars and an industry pack to meet the requirements of mining, construction and other industrial users.
Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the new range is the total package — the toughest, most comfortable and most Australian Hilux ever.
“Australia’s favourite ute has taken the ‘unbreakable’ Hilux DNA to new heights due to Toyota’s global expertise in developing tough trucks and the extensive involvement since 2009 of our local engineers,” Cramb said.
“As a result, new Hilux is remarkable for the way it inspires go-anywhere confidence, advances its role as a workhorse and is also fun to drive with SUV-like ride, handling, comfort and convenience,” he said.
“It is ideally suited to Australian customers for whom towing is part of their life, carrying a load is vital for their job — and they love their bull bars, winches and other accessories.”
Cramb said value has improved markedly across the range with thousands of dollars of added specification plus new-generation advances that comprehensively outweigh price changes.
Toyota’s expanded Hilux range includes more double cabs, 4x4 and diesel choices plus the introduction of three 4x2 Hi-Rider variants with the ride-height and heavy-duty suspension of 4x4 vehicles.
There are narrow and wide-body versions as well as single, double and extra cab styles — the latter now providing easy entry to second-row seats by incorporating rear-hinged access doors.
The range starts with Workmate and steps up to SR and SR5 grades, the latter offered with the option of a power-operated driver’s seat and leather-accented seat and door trims on 4x4 diesel double cabs.
All four Hilux engines are now Euro 5 compliant — the quieter, cleaner and more fuel-efficient new turbo diesels, the revised 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol with up-rated power, torque and fuel economy, and a more efficient 4.0-litre V6 petrol.
Compared with its predecessor, the turbocharger for the diesel engines is 30 per cent smaller with 50 per cent faster response.
These engines, fitted with a low-friction timing chain, deliver 80 per cent of their maximum torque at just 1200rpm.
In a world first for a pick-up truck, Hilux SR5 turbo-diesels with the six-speed manual gearbox gain an “intelligent” function.
Activated by pushing a button near the gear lever, it produces smoother shifts by more accurately matching engine speed to the transmission for smoother driving.
All automatic Hilux models are fitted with a new six-speed electronically controlled transmission that adopts artificial intelligence and other measures to support both improved performance and economy.
The sequential shift mode features blipping downshifts, similar to that found in high performance cars.
The locally developed and tested suspension package is now standard for “tough” regions including Australia, South America, South Africa, the Middle East and Russia.
Tuning and new components — including a thicker front stabiliser bar and larger diameter shock absorbers — enhance durability and provide better control of body roll and impact harshness.
Rear leaf springs - ideal for heavy-duty towing and load-carrying — are 100mm longer and mounted wider for SUV-style ride comfort while the attachment point of the rear suspension to the frame has been moved 100mm forward and 25mm lower.
Off-road capability is deeper than ever with rear-wheel articulation improved by up to 20 per cent, the fitment of a rear differential lock on 4x4 SR and SR5, and improved approach and departure angles on most pick-ups. Ground clearance is 279mm on 4x4 extra and double cabs.
At the heart of all these improvements is the stronger frame, which features an increase in torsional rigidity of 20 per cent. Side rails and cross members are up to 30mm thicker.
The locally developed under-body protection is 40 per cent thicker and 30 per cent larger to provide three times greater resistance to deformation.
The new Hilux’s more rigid body also makes greater use of high-tensile and galvanised steel while the upper body has 45 per cent more welds.
The tub (rear deck) is stronger with a revised deck structure that incorporates extra ribbing and reinforcements, plus a reinforced header board, thicker outer panels and steel-plate brackets on tailgate struts.
Finding the ideal driving position will be easier due to a higher hip point for easier access and better visibility, a greater range of seat-height adjustment and, on all but 4x2 single cabs, telescopic as well as tilt adjustment for the steering column.
Rear-seat occupants have more knee room, double cabs have a top-tether anchor and two ISOFIX child-restraint anchors, and SR and SR5 double cabs have a 60-40 split-fold rear seat base with central armrest.
All models have a 12-volt socket. SR5 variants have two 12V sockets and SR5 double cabs also gain a 220V accessory socket. Wheel sizes start with bigger 16-inch steel, two 17-inch steel with all-terrain tyres, and 18-inch alloys.
All models feature larger ventilated front disc brakes for improved stopping performance.
Fresh exterior styling reinforces the tough and refined image for Hilux with a pronounced bumper combined with sharp-look headlamps, which are LED on SR5.
A higher quality interior includes a modern tablet-style touch screen and steering-wheel controls for phone and multimedia functions.
Workmate seats are now covered in hard-wearing fabric instead of vinyl. This grade features a 6.1-inch touch screen display and an audio system with Bluetooth®^ and two speakers, upgraded in SR double cab variants to a seven-inch touch screen display with Toyota Link connected mobility. SR and SR5 variants have a new air-conditioned box capable of heating or cooling two 600ml bottles.
Top-of-the-line SR5 has digital audio, satellite navigation, full colour 4.2” multi-information display, keyless smart entry and start, automatic air-conditioning, chrome door handles, premium steering wheel and shift knob, an alarm, auto-levelling LED headlamps, and silver interior highlights.
For the Malaysian launch, which is expected to be in the first quarter of 2016, according to our source close to the ground, we expect that only the diesel versions will be brought in.
The fresh new look, the more powerful engines, plus the 6-speed automatic and manual transmissions will undoubtedly put the Hilux right on top of the heap.
