The 2021 Toyota Hilux is all set to be unveiled in a few days. To keep the hype going, Toyota Europe has released a teaser of the refreshed truck with none other than former F1 driver Fernando Alonso behind the wheel.
The 2021 Hilux is said to be inspired by the U.S.-based Tacoma and Tundra, but we can’t figure out much from the teaser, thanks to the heavy camouflage. But, the big news is that Toyota has updated the 2.8-liter mill and it will receive a power bump. Excited much?
The Teaser Shows The Truck’s Sporty, Adventurous Side
It comes as no surprise that Toyota chose Fernando Alonso as ‘brand ambassador’ for the Hilux. The ex-Formula 1 driver got behind the wheel of a rally raid-spec Hilux in the Dakar Rally held earlier this year in Saudi Arabia. You can see Fernando Alonso pacing the truck through mud and drifting it around.
The video shows the 2021 Hilux wrapped in camouflage, as well as the one Alonso had driven at the 2020 Dakar Rally. His co-driver Marc Coma is also seen in the teaser. Alonso called the truck “invincible” and said, “I knew the Hilux for a very long time, it’s an icon. The new engine, the (updated) 2.8-liter, behaves amazingly well, very powerful. Even if you push the car to the limit, the comfort is still there.”
Back in April, images of the 2021 Hilux were leaked online, but it wasn’t sure if they are renderings or the real deal. Not a lot can be deciphered from this teaser either. However, CarAdvice had earlier said that the truck will most likely receive a fresh face with a bold grille and revised taillights. The images suggested a lot of bold changes. It featured two different headlight designs, two new exterior shades, and 17-inch or 18-inch aluminum wheels, depending on the trim.
While the company didn’t reveal much about the truck, it did issue a statement revealing a key detail.
Currently, the diesel mill produces 174 horses and 332 pound-feet of torque when mated to an automatic transmission. When paired to a manual gearbox, the engine churns out 174 ponies and 310 pound-feet of torque.
Ford Ranger Raptor-Killer In The Making
In other news, the Japanese automaker will be launching a performance version of the Hilux to take on the Ford Ranger Raptor – the GR Hilux. For this, the pickup truck will be plonked with a new V-6 engine borrowed from the upcoming 2021 LandCruiser 300 Series.
The present V-8 mill produces 268 horses and 479 pound-feet of torque, but the V-6 will be even more powerful. The GR Hilux could receive the mill with the same power output figures. This is unofficial for now, so let’s see how things pan out.
Final Thoughts
Some rumors suggest that Toyota is planning to unify the Hilux and Tacoma monikers. So, if you see any resemblance of the Hilux to the Tacoma, you know what’s cooking. The automaker will debut the truck in a few days and we’ll know if the leaked images were showed the facelifted Hilux, or if they were mere renderings.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming 2021 Toyota Hilux? Share them with us in the comments section below.