Refreshed Toyota Hilux’s uprated engine to match Ranger for torque?

A fresh report out of Australia claims the facelifted Toyota Hilux’s uprated 2,8-litre turbodiesel will match the Ford Ranger’s five-cylinder unit in the torque stakes.

In March 2020, a report said the Japanese bakkie’s mid-cycle update would include a power hike for the four-cylinder oil-burner that currently generates 130 kW (plus 420 N.m in manual guise or 450 N.m in automatic form).

Now a follow-up story from CarsGuide.com.au suggests Toyota will hand its 2,8-litre engine an extra 20 kW and 20 N.m, taking the self-shifting model’s peak outputs to around 150 kW and 470 N.m.

For the record, the 3,2-litre five-pot in the Ranger generates 147 kW and 470 N.m, although the Blue Oval brand also offers a 2,0-litre biturbo unit (the same one employed by the Ranger Raptor) with 157 kW and 500 N.m.

That earlier report said the updated Hilux would feature a “tougher front-end appearance” and “mild revisions” to its cabin, including an upgraded infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The facelift of the eighth-generation Hilux is expected in the “near future”, with the arrival of the next-generation model set down for 2023.

The Hilux, of course, is produced at Toyota South Africa Motors’ Prospecton plant in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and holds the title of the country’s best-selling vehicle (and best-selling double-cab). An upgraded version of the bakkie hit the local market in May 2018 in the form of the limited-edition Dakar, before the updated face was rolled out to other derivatives.