Launch & Drive: The all-new Toyota Hilux

I've been lucky enough to go on quite a few launches since I started this freelancing gig of mine, some on behalf of publications and websites, and some under my Chris Wall Media banner. For the Hilux launch I was there on my own account, and while that's just a random fact to you, for me it was awesome. It was the biggest new car launch that SA has ever seen so it was (for me) quite the honour to be there. 

The Hilux is pretty much the most important model in the Toyota lineup and is South Africa's top-selling vehicle, so it makes sense that the manufacturer would unleash it upon the world with as much fanfare as possible - and they did. Pretty much all of SA's motoring journalists were rounded up and forced to stay at Sandton's Michelangelo hotel for 2 nights - oh the horror! The rooms were spruced up with a bunch of stickers and cards reminding you how to be tough, as tough as the new Hilux. The things were everywhere, very clever! The first night was pretty much just to gather all the journos for some socialising and also to treat us to a wicked dinner at Hard Rock Cafe. Us freelance journos love this, eating good is something we make sure to savour. 

The following morning we were bussed through to Kyalami Racetrack where breakfast would be served before seeing the all-new Hilux. Kyalami was branded from top to bottom with Toyota banners and flags (printed upside down, my OCD was going NUTS!) , and inside the track we found a whole arena dedicated to showcasing the Hilux and it's capabilities - a fan zone that would stay there for a week - The Hilux Tough Fest was coming. Special guests and fans would have a chance to visit the arena and take part in a bunch of activities, some of which could be done via an app. It's clear that no expense was spared, it's the biggest display I've seen at any launch, both locally and internationally. If there have been bigger launches, I've never heard of one or seen pics.  
 
Breakfast rocked, it was buffet that was taken full advantage of (#FreelanceLife) before we headed into the huge dome that was set up for our first introduction to the all-new Toyota Hilux. The launch presentation was great, the technical details of the new Hilux are just nuts, it's like the engineers at Toyota have been listening to what the fans out there want in a Hilux and they did everything they could to make these needs and wants a reality. More on that later though. My favourite part was seeing all the TV ads for the Hilux since it's introduction in 1969. I remembered at least 95% of them, so much nostalgia.   ​

After the presentation and trying to wrap my mind around just how successful the Hilux has been, not only in SA, but worldwide, we left the dome to be greeted by a fleet of new Hilux models is various specifications. It was the first up close look of them and first impressions were great. I'd seen pics online of course, and they really don't do it justice. Many have criticised the front end looks of the new Hilux and it does look a little different, sort of a little flatter and not that chunky, but there were a few fitted with the optional lower bull bar and it looks just right. The large group (what's a collective of motoring journalists called anyway?) of us were divided up, some would be heading out on the open road to sample how the new Hilux feels on tarmac, while others were headed to Kyalami's new 4x4 test track to see how the it performs off road. I was in the tarmac group... 

It's been a while since I was behind the wheel of a Hilux, but I did have a Fortuner on test not too long ago and it's basically an SUV version of the Hilux using the same dash, front seats, engine and drivetrain. Using that as my point of reference I can tell you that the new Hilux is an amazing improvement. The suspension is much smoother now, actually rather refined. Over corrugations, in a straight line and on bends, the Hilux stayed where it was meant to be thanks to a new double-wishbone front suspension design combined with a leaf-spring type suspension utilising twin shocks in the rear. " The length of the leaf spring has been increased by 100mm to 1400mm, suppressing road surface vibration and the attachment point of the rear suspension moved to the front of the spring. Moving the attachment point 100mm forwards and lowering it by 25mm contributes to enhanced steering stability."  Attention was paid to the steering column, a new design reduces road surface vibration, which when added to the new fine-tuned hydraulic power steering system makes for much-improved steering feedback and feel. The shocks in the new Hilux are larger in diameter and have been relocated, which is apparently why the drive feels better. The new geometry allows for better rear axle articulation, which is hard to believe as the the Hilux already had great articulation. There's also a new feature called Pitch and Bounce Control, this system automatically adjusts the engine torque for optimum delivery in response to the changing road surface. The system makes use of the  wheel-speed sensors to establish when the nose of the vehicle raises or lowers; when the nose dips, torque is increased, when it raises the torque is limited - this results in a smooth ride with much reduced fore and aft movement of the passengers.

The all-new Hilux really is all-new, under the hood you'll find a brand new range of diesel engines too, they're now GD-series engines instead of the D-4D engines, which were really good already. GD stands for Global Diesel and they  come in 2.4 and 2.8-litre capacities. The new specs and features are too numerous for the launch article, I'll delve deeper into the specs when I hopefully get one for review. The smaller motor comes in two variations, one makes 110kW and 343Nm and it's seen mainly in the models that will be bought for fleets and as workhorses. The other makes the same 110kW but has 400Nm on tap (the auto has 450Nm on tap). I drove the new manual double cab with the daddy motor, a 130kW/420Nm 2.8-litre lump. On the petrol side of things we find three familiar, but tweaked engines, a 2.0-litre, 100kW/182Nm 4-pot, a 2.7-litre VVTi with 122kW and 245Nm. That monster 175kW/376Nm 4.0-litre V6 is still on offer for those who don't like the diesel stuff.

On the transmission side, there's all-new 5 & 6-speed versions. The workhorse stuff has the 5-speed manual but as you rise up the ranks you find the 6-speed manual or 6-speed auto. I drove a 6-speed manual, and the 'box is great. It's smooth, the ratios are now as close to perfect as you can get. They added a world first for this segment - iMT (intelligent Manual Transmission). I had fun with this system, it, pretty clever.  iMT uses rev-matching technology on both up  and downshifts. I wan't sure what it was and my co-pilot the day, Martin Pretorius, drove first and showed me how it works. It was cool to see, but when it was my turn to drive and I actually felt it working, I was an instant fan. It just makes driving easier, not that it's hard to start with. On the auto models there's now a 6-speed Super Intelligent Electronically Controlled transmission with High-speed Gear Effective Utilisation Control. It's all quite technical, but it all improves the drive and feel. 

This is SA, and there's a reason the Hilux is so popular, it can go anywhere. So the next stop was proving that at Kyalami's new off road test track. It's a great little track that will definitely show off any shortcomings a vehicle touted as being a tough 4x4 may have. Well, the all-new Hilux doesn't seem to have any flaws in this area. Soft sand, inclines, STEEP declines that show off the descent control, axle twisters - everything chucked at the Hilux simply proved how good it is. I purposely stopped in the soft sand so that 4-low could be (electronically - about time!) engaged. The Hilux crawled out with zero fuss. The downhill was insane, it's hard letting the car take control,but once both feet are off the pedals and you realise you're not going to topple head over heels or have gravity slingshot you into the earth's mantle, the Hilux makes the steepness flatten out. Through the ditches that force a crossaxle situation, it's again an easy task. The better travel on the suspension is clearly seen, this new Hilux does what an older model would only have been able to achieve with an aftermarket lift kit or serious planning to get through the obstacle. I don't think there was anyone there who wasn't impressed.  

The new Toyota Hilux really is that good. I still see people who complain about the styling of the nose, but it grows on you quite quickly. Even if you are a hater, the lineup, the drive and the capabilities will quickly make you overlook that. I think it's ok, but I would add on an optional nudge bar to make it look beefier. I'm clearly not alone in my praise of the new Hilux. The first month of sales figures have come in and Toyota's all-new Hilux has shown the competition who's boss. The month of March saw a mad 3273 units of the all-new Hilux making the vehicle the most popular LCV year-to-date. The competition is definitely being kept on it's toes - well done Toyota, well done!

A huge thanks goes to the entire Toyota SA crew for this experience, y'all rock! That awesome Leatherman Tread is being worn daily too, love it!

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Lineup & Pricing

Single Cab - From R228 900 - R 435 900
•    2.0 VVTi 5MT
•    2.0 VVTi 5MT A/C
•    2.4 GD 5MT
•    2.4 GD 5MT A/C
•    2.4 GD-6 Raised Body SRX 6MT
•    2.4 GD-6 4X4 SRX 6MT
•    2.4 GD-6 4X4 SR 6MT
•    2.7 VVTI Raised Body SRX 5MT
•    2.8 GD-6 RB Raider 6MT
•    2.8 GD-6 4X4 Raider 6MT
Xtra Cab - From R333 900 - R470 900
•    2.4 GD-6 Raised Body SRX 6MT
•    2.8 GD-6 Raised Body Raider 6MT
•    2.8 GD-6 4x4 Raider 6MT
Double Cab -  R377 900 - R593 900
•    2.4 GD-6 Raised Body  SRX 6MT
•    2.4 GD-6 4X4 SRX 6MT 
•    2.4 GD-6 4X4 SR 6MT
•    2.7 VVTi Raised Body SRX 5MT
•    2.8 GD-6 Raised Body Raider 6MT
•    2.8 GD-6 Raised Body Raider 6AT 
•    2.8 GD-6 4X4 Raider 6MT
•    2.8 GD-6 4X4 Raider 6AT
•    4.0 V6 Raised Body Raider 6AT
•    4.0 V6 4X4 Raider 6AT

New Hilux models come with a 5-year/90000km service plan and a 3-year/100000km warranty.