Toyota Hilux GR Sport II: And the pickup becomes sporty

The star of pickups, the Toyota Hilux, benefits from a sporty treatment from the GR Gazoo Racing division’s competition department.

Being tough, knowing how to run fast, and being sexy — rugby players are proving it to us now, during the World Cup. Because codes are meant to be broken, Toyota has almost decided to copy Tesla by presenting a sporty pickup… but still gasoline-powered.

The nod to Tesla partly resides in the Cherry color of the presented model, a shade that appeared in the catalog of the American company’s Model Y a few months ago.

Available at dealerships from summer 2024, this Hilux declares its rally heritage, acquired at the Dakar Rally. With its double cab, a payload capacity of one ton, and a towing capacity of 3.5 tons, this Toyota loves to engage in wheel-to-wheel combat. To improve its stance even further, its track widths are widened by 140 mm at the front and 155 mm at the rear. This allows for the integration of imposing black fenders that enhance the aesthetic appeal. The whole package is topped with 17-inch black rims and a wide rear cove behind the cab to better guide airflow and thus reduce aerodynamic drag.

Suspension and braking systems have been overhauled to respond to a greater sporting appetite, particularly to reduce body roll during cornering and acceleration.

Under the hood, there is a 2.8-liter inline 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine developing 204 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque. This engine is paired with all-wheel drive and a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddles on the steering wheel!

Inside, the seats with a leather-like appearance, embroidered with the Gazoo Racing logo, are more enveloping, and the seat belts are now red.

The price of this Toyota Hilux GR Sport II is not yet known, but for reference, the current model with this engine already costs 51,500 euros.

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