First shots of 2026 Hilux reveal mild updates for next gen bakkie
The motoring world now has its first glimpse at the revered bakkie with spy shots coming out of South East Asia.
Toyota’s next-generation Hilux has been spotted in Thailand sporting a tame design under the heavy camouflage, but is this expected to be the overall silhouette that the Japanese automaker will reveal in 2026?
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Images shared by Thai publication Headlight Magazine reveal the supposed new Hilux wearing a heavily camouflaged front and rear end while the cabin doesn’t leave much to the imagination. This portion of the 2026 Hilux spied in South East Asia wears the unmistakable cabin from the outgoing model, which could potentially imply that the new model is more of a light refresh than anything else. This approach aligns with Toyota’s recent strategies incorporated into the Camry sedan and RAV4, where the company minimises costs by avoiding a complete platform overhaul.
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As a refresh, the current IMV ladder-frame platform used in the outgoing model is long in the tooth since it has been around for two decades but it will expectedly undergo significant updates to ensure it retains competitive and robust in the segment.
Concealed by the camouflage, the new Hilux appears to adopt Toyota’s latest design language, featuring sharper panel edges and a honeycomb grille. As a reminder, the speculations on components fitted to this prototype may not eventually see the light of day but would it really be necessary for Toyota to change the recipe under the surface?
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Headlight Magazine reports that the current turbo diesel engines — the 1GD 2.8-litre and 2GD 2.4-litre four-cylinder units — will continue in the new Hilux that was the anticipated route Toyota was set to take. However, updates are expected to be made to meet Euro 6 emissions standards that could involve AdBlue systems or the wider implementation of 48-volt mild-hybrid ‘V-Active’ technology seen in some Australian models.
In South Africa, the bakkie has remained the top-selling model in the light commercial vehicle segment, with the heavily modernised Ford Ranger trailing behind.
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