Toyota Gazoo Racing in Japan has officially introduced the Hilux GR Sport to their range of ever-growing fun-to-drive vehicles.
Similar to the variant launched in Thailand in late August, the Hilux GR Sport arrives in Japan almost unchanged. The exclusive front fascia of the Toyota Hilux GR Sport consists of a tastefully done black-and-body-coloured grille that has ‘TOYOTA’ spelt out like the Land Cruiser GR Sport, added with side steps, as well as body-coloured wheel arches, dual-tone 18-inch wheels and black-painted mirror caps and rear bumper.
The sporty red brake calipers are also maintained, but not the sports bar in the cargo deck area. As part of the genuine Toyota GR Sport recipe, the shock absorbers on the Hilux GR Sport have been upgraded to monotube unis for better steering response as well as flatter cornering. Only white and black colours are available for the Toyota Hilux GR Sport in Japan.
Here is the new Toyota GR86 with very aggressive GR parts. Can we just call it the Toyota GGRR86?
However, engine power in the Japan-market Toyota Hilux GR Sport will continue with the 2GD-FTV 2.4-litre turbodiesel mill that has outputs of 150 hp and 400 Nm of torque, unlike the 204 hp/500 Nm unit we have here in ASEAN. A six-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles is then paired with a part-time 4×4 transfer system with Auto LSD as well as Active TRC for additional traction out of the tricky conditions.
Inside, the Toyota Hilux GR Sport maintains all the fine items from the Toyota GR catalogue such as the GR-specific instrument cluster (welcome logo and red needles), multi-function leather-wrapped steering wheel with red centre-marking, and perforated suede and leather seat upholstery with red stitching.
Smoke silver and metallic black are applied to the trim inserts as well as air vents and are well coordinated with the metallic brake and accelerator pedals.
The Toyota Hilux GR Sport takes over as the range-topping variant in Japan with a price starting from JPY4.312 million (approx. RM158.8k), like the circa USD38k when converted from its Thai pricing of THB1.3million.
The other two variants in the range, X and Z, have also been upgraded with better comfort and safety features. All Toyota Hilux models of this generation in Japan are fully imported from Toyota Motor Thailand since 2017.
GALLERY
