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Toyota Hilux

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This article is about the pickup sold in North America until 1994, and international markets as of today. For the 1995-present small pickup sold in North America, see Toyota Tacoma.
Toyota Hilux
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab (2001-2004)
Overview
ManufacturerToyota
Also calledToyota Tacoma
Production1935 - present
Body and chassis
ClassCompact pickup truck
Body style2-door pickup
4-door pickup

The Toyota Hilux, and Toyota Tacoma, are compact pickup trucks built and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. The Hilux name was adopted as a replacement for the Stout in 1969, and remains in use worldwide. In North America, the Hilux name was retired in 1976 in favor of Truck, Pickup Truck, or Compact Truck, until it was renamed the Tacoma in 1995. One popular option package, SR5 (Sport Rally), also became synonymous with the truck, even though it was used on other Toyota models as well. In 1984, the Trekker, the camper version of the Hilux, was changed to the Toyota 4Runner in North America and Australia, and as the Hilux Surf in Japan. The 4Runner, now a full SUV, shares few visual cues with its brother Tacoma in more recent models.

As the Hilux name was dropped in the US in 1976, any details listed here purporting to relate to the Hilux from that date may not be entirely correct when applied to the vehicle that continues to be marketed by Toyota as the Hilux throughout the rest of the world.

The product lines for the US and elsewhere diverged at that point and in many cases on a year for year basis the vehicles sold in the US only resemble the Hilux, with major mechanical/chassis differences.

1935

The original Toyota pickup was the 1935 Type G1 Truck. It shared many components with the company's Type A1 Sedan, and was a 1.5 ton stake-bed commercial truck.

1947

After World War II, Toyota returned with a compact pickup truck, the Toyopet Model SB. This was the true ancestor of the Hilux, and remained in production from 1947 through 1963.

Engine:

  • 995 cc I4, 27 hp (20 kW)

1964

Toyota entered the American market with the 1964 introduction of the Stout. It was larger than the similar Datsun and Mazda compact trucks, and looked like a Chevrolet C/K.

Engine:

  • 1964-1968 - 1.9 L (1897 cc) 3R I4, 85 hp (63 kW)

1969

The Hilux name was coined in 1969, but it was a highly-luxurious vehicle only when compared to the Stout. Hilux was engineered and assembled by Hino Motors, replaced Hino Briska,Toyota Briska and Toyota Light Stout. The only body style was a regular cab short bed and all were rear-wheel drive. It used a typical truck setup of A-arms and coil springs in front and a live axle with leaf springs in back. A 4-speed manual transmission was standard.

Engine:

  • 1969 - 1.9 L (1897 cc) 3R I4, 85 hp (63 kW)
  • 1970-1971 - 1.9 L (1858 cc) 8R SOHC I4, 97 hp (72 kW)
  • 1972 - 2.0 L (1968 cc) 18R SOHC I4, 108 hp (81 kW)

1973

In the middle of 1972, the 1973 Hilux was released. A more-comfortable interior was specified along with exterior updates. A 7.5 ft (2.3 m) "long bed" was optional for the first time.

Engine:

  • 1973-1974 - 2.0 L (1968 cc) 18R SOHC I4, 108 hp (81 kW)

1975

The truck was radically redesigned in 1975. Larger and more luxurious in every way, the truck also introduced the 20R engine and SR5 upscale trim package. A 5-speed manual transmission was optional. The Hilux name was dropped in America in favor of "Truck" the next year. Buyers of the Hilux in America found that their owners' manuals named it as the Toyota "Pickup".

Engine:

  • 1975-1978 - 2.2 L (2189 cc) 20R SOHC I4, 96 hp (72 kW)

1979

1980 4x4 Toyota Pickup.

The next generation appeared in 1979. This time, the SR5 package included an updated torsion bar suspension as well as the usual trim upgrades.

Another important addition was the a four-wheel drive model. It used solid axles and leaf springs front and rear and skid plates to protect the transfer case and fuel tank.

Engine:

  • 1979-1980 - 2.2 L (2189 cc) 20R SOHC I4, 96 hp (72 kW)

1981

1982 Toyota SR5 Pickup.

The 1981 model year saw a vehicle development deal between Toyota and Winnebago Industries (primarily) and two other aftermarket customizers. Toyota was attempting to enter the SUV market. The vehicles which resulted from this collaboration were the Toyota Trekker (Winnebago), Toyota Wolverine, and the Toyota Trailblazer (Griffith). All three employed the Toyota Hilux 4x4 RV cab and chassis, and an all-fiberglass rear section (the Trailblazer had a steel bed with a fiberglass top). There were at least 1,500 Trekkers, 400 Trailblazers (only 41 currently registered by the DMV), and an unknown number of Wolverines sold in North America. Research and development work on the Trekker lead to the development of the Toyota 4Runner (called the Toyota Hilux Surf outside North America), which was released in 1984.

Engines:

  • 1981-1983-2.4 L(2366 cc) 22R SOHC I4, 96 hp (72 kW) at 4800 rpm and 129 ft·lbf of torque at 2800 rpm.
  • 1981-1983-2.2 L Diesel I4, 62 hp at 4200 rpm and 93 ft·lbf of torque(SR5 long bed only.).

1984

1984 Toyota pickup

The big news for the 1984 redesign was the introduction of the Xtracab two-row extended cab option. Also two diesel engines were offered, the 2L and the turbocharged 2L-T. The diesels were discontinued in the U.S. after the 1985 model year, for unknown reasons. The next year saw the introduction of an optional fuel injected engine, the 22R-E, and a turbocharged option, the 22R-TE. The solid front axle was swapped out for an independent front suspension/torsion bar setup in the 4x4 model in 1986, and optional automatic locking front hubs and an electronic transfer case was added as well. A V6 engine was introduced in 1988.

Engines:

  • 1984-1988 - 2.4 L (2366 cc) 22R SOHC I4, 96 hp (72 kW) at 4800 rpm and 129 ft·lbf (174 N·m) at 2800 rpm
  • 1984-1986 2.2 L 1L (2188 cc)Diesel I4, 62 hp (46.2 kW) at 4200 rpm and 93 ft·lbf (126 N·m) (SR5 long bed only)
  • 1984-1985 - 2.4L (2446 cc) Diesel I4 2L SOHC, 83 hp at 4200 rpm and 122 ft·lbf at 2400 rpm; 2L-T (2446 cc) SOHC, 92 hp at 4000 rpm and 159 ft·lbf at 2400 rpm
  • 1985-1988 - 2.4 L (2366 cc) 22R-E SOHC FI I4, 112 hp (78 kW) at 4800 rpm and 137 ft·lbf (185 N·m) at 2800 rpm
  • 1985-1987 - 2.4 L (2366 cc) 22R-TE SOHC FI turbo I4, 135 hp (101 kW) at 4800 rpm and 173 ft·lbf (234 N·m) at 2800 rpm
  • 1988 - 3.0 L 3VZ-E V6, 150 hp (112 kW)

1989

The next redesign, in 1989, saw a longer-wheelbase option, 122 in (309.9 cm) versus 103 in (261.6 cm) for the regular wheelbase. The V6 Xtracab SR5 earned Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year award that year. Production began at the NUMMI plant in Fremont, California in 1991.

Engines:

  • 1989-1995 - 2.4 L (2366 cc) 22R-E SOHC FI I4, 112 hp (84 kW) at 4600 rpm and 142 ft·lbf (192 N·m) at 3400 rpm
  • 1989 - 3.0 L 3VZ-E V6, 150 hp (112 kW)

Volkswagen even signed a deal to build and market them under the Volkswagen Taro name; this agreement ended in the late 1990s.

  • Toyota Pick Up 4WD
    Toyota Pick Up 4WD
  • Toyota Pick Up 2WD
    Toyota Pick Up 2WD

1995

Pre-facelift Toyota Tacoma extended cab
Facelifted Toyota Tacoma
Toyota Tacoma extended cab with second facelift

The name Tacoma comes from an Indian word that refers to Mount Rainier, which is near Tacoma, Washington. The Tacoma differs framewise from the Hilux, although both appear similar from the outside.

Both the Tacoma and Hilux variants are sold in Mexico.

This, the ninth generation of compact pickup trucks from Toyota, was radically updated, with a new frame and body, new suspension, and new engines. All versions now featured coil springs in front with a live axle and leaf springs in back.

The Tacoma was restyled in 1998 when the front fascia and the frame were the primary changes as well as the addition of new badging. It was also restyled in 2001 when a new "double cab" (crew cab) option was added, and a flashy S-Runner was offered as well.

Engines:

2005

Both the Tacoma and the Hilux were updated in 2005. The Tacoma was based off the new Land Cruiser Prado chassis, while the Hilux rides on a refreshed version of the ladder frame found on previous versions. The Tacoma had a new 4.0 Liter V6 engine that produces 236 horsepower and 266 ft·lbf torque. Its design was very similar to the Toyota 4Runner. Hilux sold in European, Asian, South African and South American Markets are built and assembled in Thailand. The Hilux platform was used as the basis for Toyota's IMV program which spawned the Innova MPV and Fortuner SUV/PPV.

The new Tacoma won the Canadian Car of the Year Best New Pick-up award and was Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year for 2005.

Engines (markets):

  • Toyota Tacoma Double Cab
    Toyota Tacoma Double Cab
  • Current Toyota Tacoma (regular cab)
    Current Toyota Tacoma (regular cab)

Reputation

The nearly destroyed, but still working, Top Gear Hilux perched on its plinth.
Jeremy Clarkson's Toyota Hilux Boat, redubbed the "Toybota".

The Toyota Hilux has gained a reputation for exceptional sturdiness and reliability, even during sustained heavy use, and is often referred to as "The indestructible car". This was further reinforced when on the third series (programme five) of the revamped BBC motoring show Top Gear, a 1988 Toyota Hilux with 190,000 miles on the clock, was subjected to a succession of extraordinary abuse, which included driving it down the Christmas Steps stairs in the center of Bristol, scraping buildings in Bristol, crashing it into a tree, tying it up to a jetty to be washed out to sea by the incoming tide, driving it through a garden shed (a.k.a the Top Gear production office), dropping a caravan onto it, hitting it with a wrecking ball, setting the cabin and bed area on fire, and placing it on top of a 240-foot block of flats that was subsequently destroyed by a controlled demolition. Amazingly, although it was now suffering from severe structural damage (there was already significant body corrosion when it was purchased), the truck was still running after being repaired without spare parts and only with typical tools and equipment that would be found in a car's toolbox, such as spanners, motor oil, and a monkey wrench. The Hilux was subsequently put on a plinth, and currently resides as one of the background decorations in the newly revamped Top Gear Studio from Season 8.[1]

In the 2006 series (Season 8, Episode 3), a Hilux was chosen by Jeremy Clarkson as his platform for creating an amphibious vehicle. With assistance, Clarkson rigged the truck with a massive outboard motor and steering mechanism in the pickup bed. The truck, redubbed the "Toybota", was driven by Clarkson over several miles by road and two miles across open water, before capsizing during a quick turn. Once recovered, though, the truck would no longer start, leading Clarkson's co-presenters to quip that he had finally destroyed the indestructible.

Outside television, these vehicles have been known to exceed 300,000 miles with regular maintenance. It is also famous for being used as an improvised fighting vehicle by militias and irregular military forces, especially in Third World conflicts (the Toyota War between Libya and Chad was so named because of the use of Toyota Hilux trucks as light cavalry by the Chadian army).

Trivia

The fictional characters and toys Transformers Autobots Trailbreaker and Hoist were based off of the Toyota Hilux (possibly the 1983 model). Trailbreaker, the Autobots' defensive strategist, changed into a Hilux camper (produced shortly before Hilux/"4Runners" were sold in America), while Hoist, the strict maintenance specialist chose the appropriate disguise of a Hilux tow truck.

In the 1999 film Toy Story 2, the Pizza Planet truck that the toys comandeer is shown to be a 1978 Toyota Hilux. This can be determined by a combination of the letters on the back of the truck (T YO ), the styling of the truck both inside and out, and the model year on the manual that Hamm the piggy bank is seen to be reading. It is important to note however, that on the owners manual, the number 1978 is followed by gibberish (presumeably to protect copyright).

In the 1989 comedy film, Nuns on the Run, Robbie Coltrane and Eric Idle use a hijacked Toyota Hi-Lux to escape from the convent and then they died.[citation needed]

Notes and references

  1. ^ Top Gear - Toyota Hilux destruction attempts - part 1
    Top Gear - Toyota Hilux destruction attempts - part 2

See also

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