Leaked patent images of the next-generation Toyota Tacoma pick-up in the US has provided an insight into what the 2025 Toyota HiLux could look like.
This is not the next Toyota HiLux – but leaked patent images of the related Toyota Tacoma pick-up in the US is a glimpse into what we can expect for the successor to Australia’s top-selling vehicle in 2025.
The next-generation Toyota Tacoma pick-up is slightly larger than a Toyota HiLux, but is expected to share its DNA and core ingredients.
The smaller sibling to the full-size Toyota Tundra pick-up in the US is expected to be more closely related to the Toyota HiLux than ever before – after the Japanese auto giant made a decision to streamline its heavy-duty off-road vehicles.
The major overhaul means the latest Toyota Tundra and the next-generation Toyota Tacoma and Toyota HiLux are expected to share more in common – including the core frame and electronic architecture on which they are based, but scaled to different sizes.
Bringing Toyota’s three top-selling pick-ups globally closer together delivers economy of scale but also means the HiLux will likely get an even tougher and more capable chassis.
Crash standards for pick-ups are tougher in the US than they are in Europe and Australia, which means the next-generation Toyota HiLux is expected to have heavy-duty upgrades baked into its structure.
Toyota calls the new heavy-duty frame (or chassis) TNGA-F, short for ‘Toyota New Global Architecture – Frame’.
The leaked patent images show the upcoming Toyota Tacoma looks almost identical to the electric pick-up teased by Toyota in Japan in a presentation about its future vehicles in late 2021.
The images also show the new Toyota Tacoma borrows the bold styling theme first seen on the new Toyota Tundra.
Even though the 2025 Toyota HiLux is expected to share its DNA with the upcoming Toyota Tacoma, it is possible the Toyota HiLux could adopt a unique design.
However, there is also speculation the Toyota HiLux could adopt some of the tough-truck looks from the Tacoma and Tundra.
We will need to wait until about mid-2025 to find out – because that’s the 10-year anniversary of when the current-generation Toyota HiLux went on sale.
Most double-cab utes have a 10-year lifecycle before being replaced by a new model, and recent history shows Toyota has usually stuck to this timeline.
In the meantime, Toyota has invested heavily in major upgrades to the HiLux to keep it fresh amid newer competition.
Within the past three years there have been new arrivals such as the Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, Ford Ranger and (from April 2023) an all-new Volkswagen Amarok.
This will leave the Toyota HiLux among the oldest vehicles in the ute segment, alongside the Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara (both of which are due to be replaced by new models within the next 18 months).
Despite its age, the Toyota HiLux continues to dominate the ute segment locally – and has been Australia’s top-selling vehicle outright for the past seven years in a row.
It is the first time in Australian automotive history a ute has topped the sales charts – and for so long.
While demand for the Toyota HiLux remains strong for now – amid recent upgrades to the Toyota HiLux Rogue and the arrival of the Toyota HiLux GR Sport later this year – the vehicle faces an uphill battle in the lead-up to its replacement.
Before the next Toyota HiLux arrives, the current model will be the oldest vehicle in the segment.
So there will be a lot riding on the next Toyota HiLux – and it can’t come soon enough.
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