NZ-developed special won’t wear changes to donor SR5 Cruiser.

THE biggest catch of the Hilux family, the Toyota New Zealand-developed Mako (above), will cease soon because the enhancements cannot transfer to the updated version of the donor SR5 Cruiser.

This means the line will be without an ultimate hero edition until possibly late 2023, when a factory-built Hilux GR arrives.

Explanation about this comes from general manager of new vehicles Steve Prangnell in the wake of Toyota New Zealand announcing several days ago that a mid-life facelift specific to SR5 Cruiser is coming soon.

The big changes comprise a wider track, an upgraded suspension and the rear brakes changing from drums to discs. Front brakes are also enlarged.

The update (above) of a derivative which has retailed for $62,990 in its current format achieves a 140mm-wider front and rear tracks and a 20mm-taller ride height. Toyota promises a better stance on the road, and improved on-road and off-road dynamics. 

To accomodate the wider track widths, the front suspension arms have been extended, the rear axle lengthened, the rear dampers brought out further towards the wheels, and for the first time on a Hilux, a rear stabiliser (anti-roll bar).

The rear disc brake upgrade brings the Hilux in line with the new-generation Ford Ranger, as well as the old and new Volkswagen Amarok, and the more affordable LDV T60, GWM Ute and SsangYong Musso.

However, they also don’t work for the Mako, which TNZ announced two years ago when the current generation Hilux was launched here.

Prangnell says TNZ had always envisaged Mako as a stand-in hero edition that would have been removed when GR Hilux arrived. 

Of course, what they didn’t know then was that the latter was going to be seriously delayed by coronavirus and the global semiconductor shortage, challenges that have also hurt supply of all current Toyota vehicles, the Hilux included.

Good news for those who have ordered the Mako package, which at time of launch added $21,000 to the SR5 Cruiser’s RRP, is that TNZ has enough stock of the current generation to fulfil its obligations. 

“We expected to build 200 Makos and we have 70 to deliver, we have enough units here to make that happen and we will likely have that sorted by October.”

 The Mako transformation occurs at TNZ’s refurbishment facility in Thames.

The special achieves Maxxis RAZR All-Terrain tyres (265/60), ARB Old Man Emu BP-51 suspension kit with nitrogen by-pass shocks enabling adjustable compression and rebound control, plus a kit created for the Rugged-X edition restricted to Australia. The vehicle shares its front bumper (a hoopless roo-bar in Aussie speak), bash plates, LED light bar, easy access heavy duty recovery hooks, wheelarch flares – which don’t fit on the updated SR5 Cruiser - side steps and rock rails and customised tray.

The Hilux freshen is specific to the most expensive factory-provided doublecab. There’s been no mention of the rear disc brakes – nor the upgraded front brakes – spreading to lower variants in the range, including the SR5.

The 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder also carries over, with a standard six-speed automatic.

Additional safety include Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

July appears to have been a good month for Hilux, with preliminary registrations figures published today showing it the country’s most popular new vehicle with 956 registrations, heading the Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander, which respectively notched 690 and 685 registrations.

The Autotalk.co.nz website says preliminary registration figures from the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency show that 8050 passenger vehicles and 3050 commercial vehicles were registered last month; amounting to an 11,100 vehicle total, a slight drop on the June tally.