TOYOTA HILUX GR SPORT: IS THE NEW HALO HILUX TOYOTA'S BEST DUAL-CAB EVER?

摘要

There's no arguing that the current-gen Toyota Hilux is a bit long in the tooth. It has received several substantial upgrades and facelifts throughout its lifespan, but the bones of the eighth-gen Hilux and its 1GR 2.8-litre engine have essentially been traversing mountains and deserts since 2015. However, it's entirely unfair to say the GR Sport is a 'sticker pack' aimed at keeping the Japanese brand relevant until the new-gen arrives. That this vehicle is bred from racing stock - inspired by the 2019 Dakar-winning GR Hilux piloted by Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel - proves that Toyota was serious about positioning a new flagship variant atop its line-up. For starters, Toyota engineers have squeezed an extra 15kW and 50Nm from the 2.8-litre engine by dialling into the ECU and tweaking the turbocharger characteristics and fuel injection control. This has netted a gain of 10 percent across the board, with the turbo-diesel now producing 165kW at 3000rpm and 550Nm from 1600-2800rpm - up from the standard outputs of 150kW and 500Nm. To harvest this increase in power and torque, the six-speed automatic transmission has been recalibrated accordingly. To achieve this, Toyota changed the transmission's oil pressure control to enhance shift operation speeds and then revised the mapping for a more accurate shift feel.