- A seventh-gen Toyota Hilux gets a makeover using Fortuner SUV and eighth-gen Hilux parts.
- Th front-end transformation costs around $2,000, thanks to widely available aftermarket kits.
- The trend is gaining traction among Southeast Asian truck owners looking for affordable upgrades.
Toyota is working on a new generation of the Hilux, with recent spy shots of a camouflaged prototype teasing what’s to come. But one Hilux owner in Malaysia decided they couldn’t wait around for the big reveal and took matters into their own hands, ordering a custom conversion that swaps the old truck’s face for something decidedly more modern.
Specifically, the truck in question has been retrofitted with the front end of the Toyota Fortuner. For context, the Fortuner is a three-row SUV that shares its ladder-frame underpinnings with the Hilux. That structural overlap means the two models are fairly close in dimensions, aside from the longer wheelbase of the Hilux, making this Frankenstein-style swap surprisingly feasible.
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As evident from the profile, the conversion is based on the seventh-generation Hilux, a model that first hit the road in 2004 and remained in production until 2015. The work was carried out by One Auto Concept Garage in Malaysia, which outfitted the truck with an entirely new front fascia. The transformation includes a new bumper, headlights, grille, hood, and front fenders, all borrowed from the Fortuner.
The sharper LED headlights and aggressive bumper intakes from the Fortuner integrate cleanly with the Hilux’s body, although some elements lean a bit more “aftermarket.” The same applies to the carbon-style hood with vents and the wheels of this particular example, which appears to have been lowered for a sportier stance.
Photos: Azwan Ali / Facebook
The upgrades don’t stop at the front, though. The rear section of this one-off Hilux comes courtesy of the eighth-gen model, with its more sculpted rear fenders, LED taillights, and a more modern tailgate and bumper design. The black paint and matching accents complete the transformation, giving the Hilux a more sinister look.
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It’s unclear whether the revamped Hilux received any performance upgrades to match its fresh new look. For now, it’s possible the stock powertrain remains untouched.
Interestingly, this custom job isn’t as rare as you might think. A quick online search reveals similar conversion kits available on platforms like AliExpress (where else?) for around $2,000. That relatively low cost likely explains why other Hilux owners in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia have been drawn to Fortuner-inspired facelifts. Social media is littered with examples of similar builds, proving this trend has been gaining traction in the region.