Aside from Dare Iced Coffee and RDOs at the local golf course, there’s not much your average tradie loves more than getting behind the wheel of their HiLux before the sun comes up. Despite this love affair, the powerful Toyota HiLux GR Sport models have never made it to Australia – until now with the new 2023 model.
Having previously been exclusively available in parts of Europe, Thailand, South Africa and Japan, the 2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport has been confirmed as coming to Australia, with units expected to hit dealers later this year. The main talking point is the updated Toyota HiLux 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine, which is guaranteed to get hearts racing with a 10% boost in power compared to the previous version.
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Capable of delivering a whopping 165kW of power, the engine isn’t the only update to the new flagship ute. Apparently taking inspiration from the Dakkar rally, other additions include the aggressively robust all-terrain tires and updated suspension (with an updated wishbone design and a reinforced rear axle), as well as an improved quartet of disc brakes to replace the drum brakes of previous models.
For the local Lewis Hamilton, the turbo diesel engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that can be controlled via a set of paddle shifters arriving with the standard spec. As you’d expect, it’s been tuned for sportier driving modes and the additional power that the engine delivers.
While there’s no confirmed word yet on local pricing, fans of this beast can expect to pay more than the RRP of $70,200 for the current top-of-the-range offering from Toyota. Set to be the most powerful HiLux ever made available in Australia, expect it to arrive in showrooms by the end of this year.
