With the all-new Toyota Hilux now seemingly being a bit further away from market than we had all hoped for, speculation not only continues unabatedly as to what this next gen bakkie will look like.
Hardcore enthusiasts also keep hoping that there will finally be a proper performance rival to outgun the Ford Ranger and VW Amarok 3.0-litre V6 big guns.
Toyota Hilux behind its rivalsThe current 2.8-litre four-cylinder GD-6 turbodiesel powerplant of the Toyota Hilux comes in three states of tune. The most common being the 150kW/500Nm version, while the 48V models has 162kW/565Nm on tap and the performance-based GR-S 165 kW/550Nm. But these are bullied into submission on the streets by the Ford Ranger and VW Amarok. This pair boasts 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque.
If the Japanese manufacturer decide to engage in this bakkie war and take the power fight of their market leading Toyota Hilux to its rivals, they sure have the firepower lurking in the new 4Runner Fortuner and Tacoma Hilux in the United States.
Proper powerThe Tacoma runs a 2.4-litre petrol turbocharged engine that also finds itself in three states of tune 170kW/329Nm, 200kW/420Nm and 207kW/430Nm.
