Hilux GR Sport returns after bowing two years ago as a limited edition model. Image: headlightmag.com
The announcement made yesterday (24 August), Toyota officially revealed the all-new Hilux GR Sport in Thailand in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Only offered as a double cab but with two or four-wheel-drive, the former sporting a “low-rider” bodystyle, the GR Sport, as speculated previously, gains Toyota Gazoo Racing specific front and rear bumpers, a black GR grille with block letter TOYOTA badging on the latter only, extended door sills, gloss black fog light surrounds, black mirror caps and red GR brake calipers.
While GR graphics adorn both models, the four-wheel-drive eschews the low-rider’s 17-inch alloy wheels for 18-inch split-spoke wheels while also losing the integrated bumpers for more conventional items, the rear finished in black and the front being colour coded.
ALSO READ: Toyota Hilux GR Sport revealing itself on 25 August
In addition, it also comes equipped with body colour matching extended wheel arches, side steps and a black sports bar with an integrated LED light.
Inside, the GR touches comprise a black and red colour scheme, GR branded sport seats trimmed in synthetic leather and perforated suede, Smoke Silver imitation alloy inserts, faux black leather door trim, a GR steering wheel with red 12 o’ clock marking, red stitching on the seats and doors, a GR graphic on the 4.2-inch TFT instrument cluster display and in the case of the four-wheel-drive, a GR starter button and alloy pedals.
As expected, Toyota has also tweaked the GR Sport’s suspension by equipping the four-wheel-drive with mono-tube shock absorbers and stiffer coil springs while dropping the ride height of the two-wheel-drive by 23 mm in order to “improve aerodynamics”.
Underneath the bonnet, the status quo remains unchanged with both models deriving motivation from the upgraded 150kW/500Nm 2.8 GD-6 turbodiesel engine matched solely to a six-speed automatic gearbox with gear shift paddles. Claimed ground clearance is 164 mm for the two-wheel-drive and 217 mm for the four-wheel-drive.
As before, the GR Sport’s colour palette consists of three hues; Pearl White, Attitude Black and Emotional Red with the low-riding two-wheel-drive retailing from 889 000 baht (R406 754) and the four-wheel-drive from 1 299 000 baht (R594 346).
While not confirmed for South Africa at present, expect an announcement to be made soon with only the four-wheel-drive set for local market availability.
