The country’s best-selling pickup gets all-new design, bigger body, more economical powertrains, car-like interior, more safety features and a new name.
2015 Toyota Hilux – After 11 Years; Now a Revo – Not a Vigo The country’s best-selling pickup gets all-new design, bigger body, more economical powertrains, car-like interior, more safety features and a new name. Toyota has staged the world premiere of its eight-generation Hilux in Thailand after selling its direct predecessor for 11 years. Six countries produce the Hilux, with Thailand (where it is called the Hilux Revo) accounting for a whopping 70% of global production.
It’s sold in 180 countries. “We are happy to introduce this Hilux for the first time in the world in Thailand, which can be said to be the place of origin of the Hilux,” Kyoichi Tanada, President of Toyota Motor Asia Pacific and Toyota Motor Thailand, says during the launch ceremony. The Hilux first was produced here in 2004 when Toyota launched its Innovative International Multi-Purpose Vehicle platform. It was the automaker’s first 1-ton pickup built outside Japan. About 16 million Hiluxes have been built since the truck was introduced 47 years ago, with the domestic Thai market accounting for 1.65 million units while producing 2.4 million for export destinations.
It makes Thailand the biggest global pickup production hub for Toyota and a key export model for the local operation, especially as demand for some of the car models it exports has slipped. Against that backdrop the new Hilux Revo is a vital vehicle both for Toyota Thailand, where it has been the bestselling pickup nine consecutive years, and the car industry as a whole. Developed as a replacement for the Hilux Vigo, the Hilux Revo gets a new diesel engine family under the GD code. The two four-cylinder motors highlight more low-end torque and efficiency rather than outright power when compared to its predecessors. The 2.4-litre version produces 150hp and 400Nm, while the 2.8-litre variant generates 177hp and 420Nm (450Nm with automatic transmission). There’s also a petrol version, which is an upgraded version of the 2.7-litre fourcylinder now featuring dual variable valve-timing control.
Outputs are rated at 166hp and 245Nm. There are options of six-speed manual or automatic gearbox, 2WD or 4WD and standard, extra or double cab. The use of the upgraded transmissions (from the previous five-speeders) and automatic stop/start system is claimed to improve fuel economy by 10%. Toyota says the chassis has been stiffened up by 20%, while the wider dimensions of the vehicle help for increased grip and better cornering ability. In high-body 2WD and 4WD forms, the Revo has an overall length of 5,330mm (up by 90mm), width of 1,855mm (up by 20mm), height of 1,815mm (up by 5mm) and an unchanged wheelbase of 3,085mm. Toyota has developed three types of suspension settings for the Revo including standard, heavy duty and comfort. The latest setup has been chosen for the Revo’s launch in Thailand. In a bid to attract more buyers to its workhorse vehicle, Toyota has given the Revo more car-like exterior and interior design cues aping those of the Corolla compact saloon.
The front end of the Revo is emphasised with projector-type head lamps with LED daytime-running lights. Inside, there’s a 4.2-inch multiinformation display, 7-inch touchscreen to operate the audio and navigation systems and a steering wheel that adjusts for both reach and height. Depending on model and grade, safety features includes rear-view parking camera, traction and stability control and front, side, head and driver-side knee airbags. Prices for the standard body range from 569,000-675,000 THB, extra cab from 619,000-899,000 THB and double cab from 725,000 to 1.139 million THB.
