Jul 14 2011

2012 Toyota Hilux pickup gets fresh skin and more power

When we think of Toyota icons, we tend to think of vehicles like the Prius, Land Cruiser, or perhaps the Corolla, the world’s best-selling nameplate. But entire towns have been built and many wars have been fought on the back of Toyota’s Hilux pickup. Celebrated the world over for its legendary ruggedness and anvil-like reliability, it’s been the workhorse of choice everywhere from Africa to Antarctica for decades. In other words, the debut of a new Hilux qualifies as a genuinely important development in global transportation.

Underhood, the diesel-powered two-wheel-drive Hilux 2.5 D-4D gets a new variable nozzle turbo to boost power to 144 horses (+24) and 253 pound-feet of torque, all while lowering fuel consumption.

Overall, the Hilux is available in three bodystyles with two engines and transmissions, along with two- or four-wheel drive. Check out our high-res gallery below and learn more in the official press release after the jump.

[Source: Toyota]