Durban plant to produce new-generation Hilux bakkie
Toyota has lifted the veil on its new, eighth-generation Hilux bakkie, which is set to be launched in South Africa in the first quarter of next year. Sales have already started in Thailand.
New Hilux models for the local market will be produced at the Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) plant in Durban, as is the case with the current Hilux model.
The Hilux will be exported to the rest Africa, as is the case with the current pick-up.
TSAM’s Durban plant has the capacity to produce 220 000 vehicles a year, with around 120 000 units of this capacity allocated to the Hilux.
TSAM indicated earlier this year that this number may be ramped up for the new pick-up model.
The Hilux was South Africa’s top-selling vehicle across all segments in 2014, at 37 561 units.
TSAM built 155 000 vehicles last year, excluding trucks. The local arm of the Japanese group also exported around 70 000 vehicles, with the overwhelming majority of these being Hilux bakkies.
Globally, the first Hilux was produced in 1968. This year, TSAM celebrates sales reaching the one-million mark in South Africa alone.
Toyota says the completely redesigned Hilux “redefines toughness by being more occupant-focused and easier to drive than ever before”.
Some of the changes in the new model include the upgraded leaf spring suspension and shock absorbers; newly developed 2.4 ℓ and 2.8 ℓ diesel engines; extended cruising distance enabled by improved fuel efficiency; reduced engine noise; newly developed six-speed automatic transmissions with more steps and optimised gear ratios; Intelligent Manual Transmission, or i-MT, that supports smooth shifting with rev- matching technology; an audio system with electrostatic multitouch control panel; and an electronic four-wheel-drive changeover switch.
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