Toyota has launched a new flagship variant of the Hilux GR Sport in Australia featuring Dakar-inspired styling, a more powerful diesel engine, and a number of chassis modifications set to improve its handling and off-road capabilities.
This is the fourth different GR Sport trim of the Toyota Hilux we come across following the market-specific models for Thailand, Japan, and Europe. All four of them feature different kinds of visual and suspension upgrades, although the Australian model combines those with a tuned diesel engine.
Designers and engineers from Toyota Australia were “extensively involved” in the development of the truck, taking input from their colleagues in Latin America, Thailand, and Japan. Their goal was to create a halo pickup that could steal some of the glory of the immensely powerful and off-road capable Ford Ranger Raptor, although the resulting Toyota Hilux GR Sport is closer to the Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior in terms of power output and market positioning.
The Most Rugged-Looking Factory-Spec Toyota Hilux
Starting with the exterior, the Aussie Hilux GR Sport is admittedly the most rugged-looking Hilux coming from the factory, surpassing its GR-badged counterparts from other markets. The pickup, which is exclusively available in double-cab bodystyle, is distinguished by the custom bodykit, inspired by the hardcore styling of the Dakar-competing rallycar.
The highlight is the new satin-black fender extensions which are significantly wider than in other trims. There is also a redesigned front bumper featuring sculpted intakes, a black-finished grille, and an aluminum-style skid plate. The truck gets GR sport badges, rock rails, red-painted rear recovery points, and a new set of black 17-inch alloy wheels shod in all-terrain tires. Toyota says that the new parts have been tested in the wind tunnel for aerodynamic efficiency, although don’t expect the pickup to win any drag coefficiency titles.
Read: 2023 Ford Ranger Platinum Debuts As The Most Expensive Trim Besides The Raptor
The interior is less inspiring than the exterior, as the eighth-gen Hilux has started showing its age almost eight years after its original debut. The GR Sport trim gets leather upholstery, Gazoo Racing branding on the steering wheel and on the headrests, red seatbelts, and sports pedals while retaining the same touchscreen for the infotainment.
The Most Powerful Diesel In A Toyota Hilux Combined With Beefed-Up Suspension
The turbocharged 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel has been tuned to produce 221 hp (165 kW / 224 PS) and 550 Nm (405.7 lb-ft) of torque thanks to “revised turbo-supercharging and fuel-injection control”. Both figures represent an increase of 10% over the stock engine although the power is nowhere close the 392 hp (292 kW / 397 PS) of the 3.0-liter V6 found in the AU-spec Ford Ranger Raptor.
Note that the Hilux GR Sport trims which are available in other markets don’t get any engine upgrades, producing 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) and 368 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. Power is transmitted to all four wheels through a tweaked automatic gearbox with the help of Toyota’s 4WD system.
The increased output is combined with a series of chassis upgrades. The tracks have been widened by 140 mm (5.5 inches) at the front and by 155 mm (6.1 inches) at the back. The beefed-up suspension received new monotube shock absorbers featuring higher damping force and heat-dissipation capacity, stiffer coil springs, redesigned wishbones, and a reinforced rear axle. All those tweaks are said to improve handling and off-road prowess without sacrificing ride comfort. Toyota didn’t announce the ground clearance which is expected to be increased compared to lesser Hilux trims. Last but not least, the model got larger ventilated discs all around, with red brake calipers.
The Australian-spec Toyota Hilux GR Sport is scheduled to arrive in dealerships Down Under in the second half of 2023. The company didn’t announce pricing but the extent of the upgrades suggests it will bring a premium over the AU$70,200 (US$47,324) of the Hilux Rogue. Last year, the Toyota Hilux was the best-selling model in Australia, winning the sales battle against the rival Ford Ranger.
