Toyota has announced that Australia's top-selling commercial vehicle has just ticked over 700,000 sales since the model was introduced here in the late 1960s. But reaching that target has been a protracted affair. For five months in the recent past the one-tonner has been the top-selling new car in the market, but Toyota expected this would be a tough year for HiLux, in the middle of its lifecycle. Add to that the 'known knowns' of new competitors in the form of Volkswagen's Amarok and Nissan's upgraded Navara — and the marketplace biffo has been ratcheting up for the Toyota. Then there were the production stoppages due to parts supply interruption in the aftermath of the natural disasters in northern Japan back in March. All of that, the company hopes, will change for the better with a significant facelift and specification upgrade, due in dealers from September. "HiLux is renowned for being unbreakable — a tough but flexible vehicle that is often used both as a weekday workhorse and a weekend family car," said Toyota Australia senior executive director sales and marketing David Buttner in a press release today. "The latest changes will substantially improve the inherent value of HiLux for our customers and further cement its position as one of the country's most reliable and most sought-after vehicles." Antilock braking will be introduced right across the range when the facelifted model arrives here and the towing capacity for 4x4 variants will stretch to 2.5 tonnes. Trainspotters will pick the new model (shown here in SR5 4x4 turbodiesel dual-cab configuration), by a new front bumper, different wheel arch flares, restyled bonnet featuring a relocated air intake for the turbodiesel variants, and a new three-bar grille set between revised, twin-element headlights. At the rear the HiLux features a new sports bar (when specified) and clear tail light lenses. Seat and door trims are updated in the vehicle's cabin. In addition to the cosmetic and specification changes, the HiLux range will be boosted by new Workmate variants when it goes on sale in September. Thanks to: Car Point
