Toyota HiLux twin turbo V6 petrol comes to life, with a twist

Calls for a twin turbo V6 Toyota HiLux have been answered, but for now it is only a reality in the world of motorsport.

Toyota’s motorsport division Gazoo Racing has created what is best described as the ultimate Toyota HiLux, complete with a carbon-fibre body, high-powered engine, and long-travel suspension to handle high-speed jumps.

It is powered by the same twin turbo V6 petrol engine used in the latest Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series sold in overseas markets (Australian examples of the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series have TDV6 power).

In standard guise, the twin turbo V6 petrol engine in the Gazoo Racing Toyota HiLux has an output of 305kW/650Nm, however “in race trim those numbers are significantly higher,” says Toyota.

While it is possible the only thing truly HiLux about this vehicle are the headlights, tail-lights, door handles, and the HiLux branding on the bash plate under the front of the car, industry insiders remain hopefully this is more than just a motorsport tease.

For now it is unclear if the current generation Toyota HiLux can accomodate the new V6 engine from the new Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.

It would also not be financially viable to make such a significant upgrade to the current generation Toyota HiLux this late in its model life.

Given the current generation Toyota Hilux is at the six-year mark in a 10-year model cycle, the company may prefer to allow room for a TDV6 in the next-generation model.

The next Toyota HiLux chassis is expected to be more closely related to the just-released Toyota Tundra, albeit scaled to mid-size pick-up proportions.

However, this change could make it easier for Toyota to accomodate a V6 under the bonnet of the next HiLux.

Toyota Australia has previously said the company is exploring the possibility of a GR version of the HiLux. But does that equate to increased engine performance (as per the GR Yaris hot hatch) or increased off-road ability (as per the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series GR Sport, pictured below)?

The Dakar Rally began in 1979 and was originally called the Paris-Dakar and covered Europe and Africa. However it was cancelled in 2008 due to security threats and the event was moved to South America from 2009 to 2019. Since 2020 the Dakar Rally has been held in Saudi Arabia.

There are numerous categories for cars, motorbikes and trucks, though the open-class vehicles that compete for outright honours are largely space frame chassis off-road “buggies” under the silhouette of production-car bodywork.

So while the vehicle in these photos looks like a Toyota HiLux, it is in fact a purpose-built rally vehicle with bodywork loosely based on the shape of a Toyota HiLux – in the same way Nascars have only a passing resemblance to their showroom counterparts.

Toyota has only ever won the Dakar Rally once before – in 2019 – and the company says this new model is improved thanks to the lessons learned from the race-winning machine.

A statement from Toyota said the latest Toyota HiLux Dakar racer has been updated to meet the latest rules, which offer more technical freedoms:

“The new Toyota GR DKR Hilux T1+ will share components with the race-proven Hilux that was first introduced in 2018, and won the race in 2019, but will feature a host of improvements including bigger running gear – tyres of 37 inches, up from 32 inches – together with a tread increase from 245mm to 320mm. The new car also has more suspension travel with the previous limit of 280mm now increased to 350mm.”

For 2022, the Dakar Rally will be based in the Saudi Arabian desert for the third year in a row, though the event will reportedly follow a clockwise route this time around.

It is scheduled to start on 2 January 2022 in the northern city of Ha’il, before heading south to Empty Quarter. A rest day is scheduled in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on 8 January 2022, before the event continues south-west to the finish in the city of Jeddah on 14 January 2022.