2022 Toyota HiLux GR Sport gets another power boost, will it come to Australia?

Toyota South Africa has revealed early details of what promises to be the most powerful Toyota HiLux to date.

A new high-output Toyota HiLux GR Sport is due in South African showrooms by the middle of this year. For now, Australian plans remain unclear.

Drive has contacted Toyota Australia for more details about the new high-output Toyota HiLux GR Sport, but we weren't able to flag our request in business hours. We will update this story as soon as we receive more information.

The hope among Toyota HiLux fans is that Australia missed out on earlier editions of the Toyota HiLux GR Sport because local executives have been waiting for this model.

While three versions of the Toyota HiLux GR Sport have already been released overseas, media in South Africa this week got a sneak peek at yet another edition.

Toyota executives in South Africa told media attending an automotive industry exhibition the new edition of the Toyota HiLux GR Sport will have increased outputs of 165kW and 550Nm from its 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engine – a significant jump from today's 150kW/500Nm, and the 130kW/450Nm version that arrived with this generation in 2015.

The output of 165kW/550Nm would make this version of the Toyota HiLux GR Sport the most powerful four-cylinder diesel in the ute segment today.

So far, only the South African version – built in Durban – is set apart by the engine power upgrades. The other three editions have the same 150kW/500Nm outputs as the mainstream Toyota HiLux range.

Other improvements for the HiLux GR Sport for South Africa include uprated suspension, unique styling touches, T-O-Y-O-T-A block lettering across the grille and – of course – some Gazoo Racing badging. It's scheduled to be available in South Africa by May 2022.

These improved outputs of 165kW/550Nm eclipse those for Ford Ranger twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder (157kW/500Nm) and LDV T60 Max twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder (160kW/500Nm).

However, all are still beaten by the turbo-diesel V6-powered Volkswagen Amarok, which makes 165kW to 190kW and 500Nm to 580Nm, depending on the model grade.

The 2.8-litre '1GD' turbo-diesel engine from Toyota was originally launched in 2015 with 130kW and 450Nm, but got the bump to 150kW and 500Nm in mid-2020 as part of a facelift.

If the South African Toyota HiLux GR Sport upgrades were introduced in Australia, it would become the most powerful and torque-laden four-cylinder diesel in the ute segment.

The 2022 Toyota HiLux GR Sport represents the next step in Toyota’s Gazoo Racing product rollout, which is focusing on off-road vehicles (LandCruiser 300 Series), as well as performance vehicles such as the GR Yaris, GR Supra and GR86.

When asked about the potential of a HiLux GR Sport or uprated engine coming to the Australian market, a spokesperson from Toyota Australia told Drive that the company is "continually looking at opportunities to expand the Toyota GR range with more exciting models; however, at this stage, we have no announcements to make on any new additions to the GR family."