Last weekend, I attended the second leg of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup at Clark International Speedway. If you think that the star of the show was the best-selling subcompact car, well, you’re wrong. Stealing the thunder from the Vios was a truly sporty pickup truck.
No, I’m not referring to the Next-Generation Tamaraw Pace Car pickup, although it did turn a lot of heads when it was driven around the track. I’m referring to the new Hilux GR-S that Toyota subtly displayed in the main entrance to the racetrack. A handsome pickup that will, in fact, be officially launched in our market today, the Hilux GR-S is not here for cosmetic purposes.
First off, this 4×4 vehicle boasts an uprated 2.8-liter turbodiesel. This engine is still internally called 1GD-FTV (High), but now has more power (221hp) and more torque (550Nm). So, yes, this is a different animal from the Hilux GR-S that Toyota Motor Philippines previously introduced.
Dimensions are 5,320mm in length, 2,020 in width, and 1,880mm in height (same in width as the outgoing model but wider by 120mm and taller by 65mm).
Other new features are 17-inch GR-design alloy wheels, rear disc-type brakes with GR brake calipers, LED rear combination lamps, wide matte-black GR-S overfenders, GR-S sports bar, bedliner, GR-S suede-and-leather seat material, eight-way power-adjust driver’s seat, four-way manual-adjust front passenger seat, leather steering wheel with GR emblem, leather door trim, smart entry, push start system, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear aircon vent, 9-inch audio display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six speakers, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and (not in the spec sheet but something that I really like) red seatbelts.
If you’re wondering if this pickup has monotube shock absorbers, differential lock, and auto disconnect differential, yes, it does. I just didn’t include these in the above roll call of features because these were already present in the previous model. Front brakes are also ventilated discs with GR calipers.
The price? P2,166,000 (P2,186,000 if two-tone or colored red). There are three available GR-S colors: Emotional Red, Attitude Black Mica, and Super White (with black roof).
I realized after spending an afternoon with the new Hilux GR-S that there are mostly two types of car guys in the world. First is the one who is crazy about sports cars, and second is the one who likes his vehicle tough. As I admired the cockpit of the sporty pickup, I asked myself: Why can’t we combine these two?
A Gazoo Racing pickup truck, anyone? Count me in.
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FILL YOUR TANK: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)