A next-generation Toyota HiLux GR Sport flagship is expected to join the Japanese brand’s new ute range in the future, and it’s likely to reintroduce a wider wheel track for improved ride and handling – as on the previous version.
At a preview event for the new-generation HiLux, Toyota Australia chief designer Nicolas Hogios all but confirmed the wide-track GR Sport would eventually be introduced.
“That’s, I guess, in the future,” Mr Hogios told Australian media in response to a question regarding a wide-track HiLux.
“But yeah, we’ll get to that – at the moment, there’s enough news here with this one,” he said, referring to the recently unveiled HiLux lineup.
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Above: Digital renders courtesy of Theottle
While the Toyota design boss said offering only narrow-track HiLux variants from launch was a “huge departure” from the brand’s previous offering, he hinted there was more to come.
“It can only get better from here. So, we’re constantly evolving our product.”
These digital renderings by artist Theottle provide an idea of what the new-generation HiLux GR Sport could look like.
However, while acknowledging the Gazoo Racing (GR) brand was a major part of the brand’s portfolio, Toyota Australia vice president of sales, marketing and franchise operations Sean Hanley wasn’t as forthright when asked directly whether a new HiLux GR Sport was coming.
“Not at this point,” Mr Hanley told Australian media, including CarExpert.
“But you never know what can happen. GR is an important part of our brand lineup.”
In the previous HiLux range, Toyota applied a wider track to the range-topping GR Sport, as well as the Rogue and Rugged X – but the latter two variants now employ the same standard wheel track as lower grades.
All of which suggests the GR Sport may be the only – or at least one of the few – HiLux variants to eventually get the wider chassis again, improving on-road dynamics and offering a tougher stance.
Owners of the previous HiLux GR Sport were treated to 135mm and 155mm wider wheel tracks front and back, respectively, along with KYB monotube shock absorbers and a 15mm increase to ride height.
The last HiLux GR Sport was also fitted with the same 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine as other higher-grade models – but with a slight bump in outputs to 165kW of power and 550Nm of torque.
Whether that will be the case for the next GR Sport remains to be seen, but the new HiLux flagship almost certainly won’t match the 292kW/583Nm outputs of Ford’s hardcore Ranger Raptor, which accounts for up to 15 per cent of all Ranger sales.
That said, at $74,310 before on-road costs, the old HiLux GR Sport was a lot cheaper than the $90,000-plus Ranger Raptor, and more affordable than even the Ranger Wildtrak.