Toyota Hints At A Wider Hilux As GR Sport Gears Up For A Comeback

  • Toyota Hilux lineup may soon expand with a new wide-track variant.
  • News was all but confirmed by Toyota Australia’s design chief.
  • Hilux GR Sport renderings preview a potential future flagship trim.

Toyota’s next-generation Hilux has landed, but curiously, one thing’s missing from the lineup: a wide-track variant. That absence hasn’t gone unnoticed, especially among those who expected the rugged, sure-footed setup typically reserved for flagship trims. Toyota, however, hasn’t ruled it out.

Officials have strongly hinted that the wide-track format is on the way, while a return of the GR Sport version remains on the table, though likely further down the road.

More: New Nissan Navara Bets On Mitsubishi To Fight The Hilux And Ranger

To offer a glimpse of what could be coming and help fill the visual gap, digital artist Theophilus Chin put together a set of fresh GR Sport renderings. It’s worth pointing out that the latest Hilux generation is more of a thorough rework than a clean-slate design.

This means the entire center section of the truck, including the doors and the greenhouse, is carried over from the outgoing model.

What a GR Sport Hilux Could Look Like

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Illustrations: Theottle / Photos: Toyota

In his renderings, Theottle blends the new Hilux’s front and rear lighting elements, grille, bumper intakes, and fenders into the GR Sport silhouette. Subtle revisions to the cladding and underbody protection bring it all together.

The wider stance and chunkier wheels complete the look, and the result lands close to what you’d expect from an official factory version.

The outgoing Hilux received various GR Sport trims depending on the region. The latest and most capable was introduced in 2023, featuring redesigned bumpers, wide fender extensions, a lifted and upgraded suspension, and a slightly more powerful 2.8-liter turbodiesel with 221 hp (165 kW / 224 PS).

The outgoing Hilux GR Sport took several forms depending on the market. The most capable version debuted in 2023, wearing new bumpers, extended arches, a raised and retuned suspension setup, and a mildly boosted version of the 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine, which delivered 221 hp (165 kW / 224 PS).

It didn’t aim to match the high-performance Ford Ranger Raptor but instead found its footing against more workhorse-oriented competitors like the Nissan Navara Warrior.

Where’s the Wide One?

Toyota Hints At A Wider Hilux As GR Sport Gears Up For A Comeback

Currently, Toyota offers the new Hilux with only one track width across the board. That’s a departure from the previous range, which featured a wider layout in trims like the Rogue, Rugged X, and GR Sport.

During the model’s local debut, Australian media raised the question during a conversation with Toyota Australia’s chief designer, Nick Hogios, who previously spent time at Ford Australia, where he was involved in developing cars like the Falcon XR6 and XR8.

More: Toyota Says The New Hilux’s Design Is Just “Fine”

As covered by CarExpert, Hogios responded to questions about a potential wide-body version by saying, “That’s, I guess, in the future. But yeah, we’ll get to that – at the moment, there’s enough news here with this one.” He added, “It can only get better from here. So, we’re constantly evolving our product.”

When asked whether the company would make a new Hilux GR Sport, Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia vice president of sales, marketing, and franchise operations, said: “Not at this point. But you never know what can happen. GR is an important part of our brand lineup.”

Toyota Hints At A Wider Hilux As GR Sport Gears Up For A Comeback
Toyota Hilux Rugged X

For now, the most kitted-out trim in Australia is the Rugged X. This version keeps the standard suspension and diesel engine but gets a layer of off-road hardware. That includes a steel front bumper with an integrated LED light bar and front recovery points.

Optional extras like a bull bar, snorkel, roof rails, bonnet protector, and headlight covers are also on the list.

And while the official GR Sport might still be on pause, Toyota has already begun hinting at performance-inspired accessories. During the new Hilux launch in Thailand, several modified examples were displayed, including a build sporting GR Parts.

That suggests Gazoo Racing hasn’t been idle. Instead, they’ve likely begun laying the groundwork for the more rugged trim, even if it’s not quite ready to take the spotlight.


The Auto World

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