South Africa’s bakkie craze is a largely diesel-fuelled affair, and that’s especially true when it comes to the range-topping double cab derivatives. That said, the Toyota Hilux still persists with a V6 petrol offering, and that could continue into the next generation – albeit with a far more modern and powerful twist.
Australian website Carsales.com.au says its latest intel suggests that the GR version of the next-generation Toyota Hilux could be offered with the 3,5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine that’s slated for the upcoming Land Cruiser 300, and also fitted to the current Lexus LS500 luxury sedan. It remains to be seen how Toyota would tune this new V6 for its bakkie application, but an output upwards of 300 kW is not implausible given that the Lexus is good for 310 kW and 600 N.m. In the latter application, the engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
Dieselheads could have something exciting to look forward to as well. It’s widely speculated among Australian media that the next GR Hilux will also offer the new 3,3-litre V6 turbodiesel that’s expected to debut in the Land Cruiser 300 SUV. The engine is said to produce around 230 kW and 687 N.m, as was recently reported by Japanese website Creative311, which cited dealer sources.
According to CarSales, the next Hilux is expected to debut around 2024 or 2025, and it will be built around Toyota’s upgraded ladder frame platform, dubbed TNGA-F. This new architecture also underpins the aforementioned Land Cruiser, meaning that unlike the current Hilux the new one will be compatible with the new-age V6 powerplants.
It’s way too early to speculate what the South African model mix would look like, but if the latest international rumours are anything to go by then Hilux fans could be in for a treat with significantly more powerful range-toppers and a good mix of petrol and diesel engines. Hybrid derivatives could also be on the cards further down the line.
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