The Australian branch of Toyota develops a super pickup truck Hilux to compete with Ford Ranger Raptor, according to the local edition Car Expert. We are talking about the successor of the Rugged X modification – it is called Apex. According to unofficial information, hardcore Toyota will differ from the original with reinforced suspension, power dodger “round”, widened wheel arches, off-road wheels, as well as options like a winch, kangaroo, and snorkel.
Journalists illustrated the upcoming special version by recalling the 2017 Toyota Hilux Tonka concept. Five years ago, a pickup with 43 centimeters of a ground clearance did not go into production, but after assessing the demand of Australians for the new Ranger Raptor, the local Toyota branch decided to challenge the “blue oval.”
The official announcement is sparse: Toyota Australia has announced that an off-road version of the pickup will be released as part of a further update to the Hilux lineup, but details will be revealed later. Insiders believe that Toyota may go beyond the typical off-road trappings and decide on a deeper refinement – then the 2.8 turbo diesel will be boosted similar to the South African version of the Hilux GR Sport.
The growing segment of pickups becomes more and more attractive for automakers, which have never produced such models before. Audi is thinking about a premium pickup, and the Chinese holding Geely has recently created a separate sub-brand for the family of trucks.
Source: Car Expert