The new Toyota Hilux seems to be releasing with a radical redesign, featuring some significant improvements to the truck’s overall visual arrangement and style. It will reportedly have a broader, heavier look, and will have chrome bars on the grill – a bit of a departure from what Toyota have been doing with the truck’s style previously. And while some have been skeptical about the new direction for the truck’s design, others have been claiming that this is the right decision for Toyota, as the Hilux has been in need of a rethinking of its design for a while now.
Rumors indicate that Toyota have a very particular target with the release of the new Hilux – they are reportedly trying to compete with the Chevrolet Colorado in every way possible, and they intend to spearhead the release of the Hilux with heavy marketing and with a good diversity of options in the truck’s variants, enough to entice a large number of potential buyers.
It’s not officially known what kind of engine the new Hilux will be powered by, but rumors range from 2.5 liters to 3 liters, and all are pointing in the direction of a diesel engine. There are also rumors about a more expensive version of the Hilux with a 4 liter V6 engine, although those seem to be coming from less trustworthy sources, so it’s hard to say what options buyers will actually get in the end.
However, one of the main features of the Hilux will be preserved – the fuel efficiency of the new model is reported to be even better than anything the company has done before. This is particularly important if Toyota want to compete with the Colorado as well, as it’s also a model known strongly for its fuel efficiency, so if Toyota want to lure customers away from Chevy and to the new Hilux, they should give them good parameters in this department as well.
The new design of the Hilux – visually speaking – could make sense with regards to the rumors about the Colorado as well, because American buyers are traditionally interested in a very specific style of cars, one that was not really matched by the Hilux before. A slight upgrade on some of the car’s visual traits could probably work wonders for making it a more attractive option for American drivers, and combined with the powerful engine and good fuel efficiency, it may very well succeed at its job of establishing a strong position on the American market. Only time will tell at this point, but Toyota have a serious head start on the Colorado if the rumored changes are true.