The Toyota Hilux is known as a cockroach-like super-survivalist, capable of surviving in the middle of a post-apocalyptic wasteland without any problems. We call it Hilux and hurry to briefly familiarize you with the main milestones of the history of this car. By the way, did you know that originally it was not exactly a Toyota?
Toyota Hilux (N10), 1968
The roots of the iconic model should be sought not at all in the design department of the auto giant, but in the storerooms of Hino Motors. Actually, it was not the first example of collaboration. In 1967, Toyota offered a truck Hino Briska with a 1.3-liter “four” and 4-speed manual transmission under its own brand. With the first Hilux (1968-1972, in-house marking N10) it turned out the same way – it was developed by Hino and produced at its factory. It should be noted that in the 50’s-60’s the company was also engaged in passenger cars – assembled under license rear-engine Renault 4CV and its own sedan Contessa on French components.
But let’s return to the early Hilux with quite usual, not exotic layout. Engine in the front, driving wheels in the rear – consumers could enjoy all the charms of all-wheel drive not immediately.
The design, of course, is frame. The front suspension is spring suspension on double transverse arms, rear axle is suspended on springs. With its own weight of a little more than 1000 kilograms, the Japanese “donkey” with a cabin for three people could take up to a ton of cargo in the body. Initially, a cargo area of 1850 mm in length was offered, but soon it was supplemented by a more spacious version (2250 mm) on a stretched wheelbase.
In 1971, towards the end of the first Hilux’s career, assembly began in sunny California at Atlas Fabricators (later Toyota Auto Body California). However, it was not a full-fledged process, but rather a forced half-measure. The fact is that in 1964, American President Lyndon Johnson imposed a 25 percent tariff on imported light trucks in response to the established by France and West Germany levies on imports of chickens from the United States. Not only Volkswagen with its Type 2, but also Toyota came under the crush. The way out of the unpleasant situation was found in the shipment of actually finished cars overseas, to which a cargo platform was screwed on the spot in order to bypass the increased tax.
The four-cylinder motors of 1.9 and 2.0 liters with output up to 109 hp were prescribed for overseas specification. In Japan, not suffering from gigantomania, the truck was satisfied with a 1.5-liter 2R (70 hp). In February 1971, it passed the reins to the 83-horsepower “one and six” with the index 12R.
Toyota Hilux (N20), 1972
The second Hilux (N20, 1972-1978) inherited many of its predecessor’s components. Wheelbases increased by 10 mm and 45 mm, respectively, but the size of the platform and payload did not change. But there were some revisions in terms of engines. There was a modification, equipped with a 2.0-liter 18R overhead-valve engine with an output of 105 hp and in addition with a 3-speed “automatic”. By the middle of the life cycle of the state Hilux acquired a 2.2-liter 20R, optional 5-speed “mechanics” and advanced equipment SR5.
Toyota Hilux (N30-N40), 1978
The third generation Hilux (N30/N40, 1978-1983) came closer in proportions and general appearance to what modern people associate the word “pickup” with. The length of the standard version is 4300 mm, the long-wheelbase version – 4690 mm (between the axles – 2585 mm and 2800 mm). For the end consumer these are just numbers. It is much more important that Toyota has added functionality, convenience and civility. An addition was the Hilux Super Deluxe with a 90 mm larger, more spacious cabin. In the fall of 1981, a two-row “four-door” was presented. By the way, without such versions of medium-size pickups now simply unthinkable. In front of all variations, starting with Deluxe, were installed disc brakes.
Another fundamentally important, if not to say fateful, upgrade that opens new horizons for the Hilux is all-wheel drive since 1979 on vehicles with at least the 2.0-liter 18R gasoline engine. At the front they have an uncut axle on leaf springs. Almost simultaneously, a pickup truck with a 2.2-liter diesel from the L family and rear-wheel drive wheels made its debut. By the way, about the mono-wheel drive. In this case, the “double-joint” is kept in front, but instead of springs torsions are used. The unit on “heavy fuel” was combined with 4WD only under the curtain of production of this series.
Toyota Hilux (N50-N70), 1983
An uninformed viewer could well mistake the next Hilux (N50/N60/N70 1983-1988, produced in South Africa until 1997) for its predecessor. But there’s a nuance.
The history section of Toyota’s Web site contains an explanation of this generation. The rear-wheel-drive models are divided into the Comfortable and Popular lines. The former included new models with modernized exterior and interior, while the latter belonged to the delayed third generation on the assembly line. All-wheel drive Highlaks also came with a new body. Stylistically, the truck is sleeker than the ancestor due to the expanded “rectangular” wheel arches along with chrome radiator grille and bumper on some versions. Not surprisingly, it was this iteration that spawned the legendary Hilux Surf SUV (export version – 4Runner).
Among the most significant innovations we would note the transition to independent torsion bar suspension at the front instead of a split axle in all-wheel drive trucks (in most markets since 1986) and 2.4-liter turbocharged (!) injected “four” 22R-TE (137 hp and 234 Nm), which was used in 1985-1986. Later on the market came Toyota with V6 3VZ-E 3.0 liter (152 hp and 244 Nm).
Toyota Hilux 2WD (N80-N110), 1988
Style icon is the middle name of the N80-N110 Hilux (1988-1997). And how good the related 4Runner/Hilux Surf is – just a looker! As the company notes, the vehicle reflected three basic concepts – power, endurance and comfort. Wheelbase of the short Single Cab is 2605 mm, with the extended body – 2840 mm (length – 4435 mm and 4690 mm respectively). To distinguish mono-drive from all-wheel drive Toyota, it took a little skill: the first had no arch extenders, so the width of the body is 40 mm less.
However, what are we all talking about numbers… The strong point was considered to be less traction and more light (of course, adjusted for the time and trends) interior. Doubters are recommended to compare aesthetics and decoration of Toyota’s front panel with “chopped axe” torpedo of Chevrolet S-10 or Dodge Dakota. As they say, feel the difference.
As for the range of motors, it included gasoline “one and eight” (2Y), four-cylinder 2.2-liter (4Y) and 2.4-liter (22R/22R-E), and at the same time flagship 3.0-liter V6. Diesel units are 2.4- and 2.8-liter fours (2L and 3L, respectively). Transmissions are 4- and 5-speed manual and 4-speed “automatic”.
Toyota Hilux Double Cab 4WD (N80-N110), 1988.
Since about the second generation Toyota Hilux was produced in a number of countries around the world, and by the fifth generation the geography was further expanded – production of rear-wheel drive “single cab” was launched in Hanover, Germany. The pickup truck was promoted under the brand Volkswagen Taro (the German auto giant lacked a pickup truck with payload capacity of a ton in its range), as well as all-wheel drive badge-engineered Hilux imported from Japan.
Toyota Hilux (N140-N170), 1997
The design of the fifth Hilux was so successful that its successor (N140-N170, 1997-2004) inherited many of the solutions. After the restyling in 2001, the exterior underwent a noticeable metamorphosis, and it is easily identifiable by its more aerodynamic, sleeker front end.
Under the hood, there have been major revisions. The old gasoline engines took an honorable retirement and gave way to four-cylinder engines of the RZ family – their volume is 2.0, 2.4 and 2.7 liters. The 3.0-liter V6 passed the baton to the 3.4-liter 5VZ-FE.
Toyota Hilux Sport Rider
The specification for Thailand deserves special attention. More precisely, the parallel-sold Hilux Sport Rider SUV is not a clone of the 4Runner, but exactly that – a copy of the Hilux with the same frame, independent front and rear leaf spring suspension, rear or all-wheel drive. At first there were 3.0-liter diesels 5L/5L-E, then 1KZ-TE of the same volume, and after the next update the twin-shaft 2KD-FTV and 1KD-FTV (2.5 and 3.0 liters) came into service. The origin of the SUVs is interesting. These are four-door trucks, which fell into the deft hands of craftsmen of Thai Auto Works Co, which is 20 percent owned by Toyota. Not badly known in Russia, the Fortuner SUV is just the heir to the Sport Rider.
At the next evolutionary turn our hero (AN10/AN20/AN30, 2004-2015) noticeably improved and adjusted “geopolitical” principles. Assembly in Japan was curtailed. A lot of Toyotas were born in Thailand, South Africa and Argentina. Conveyors in Malaysia, Pakistan and Venezuela also worked.
Toyota Hilux (AN10-AN30), 2004
The seventh Hilux was developed as part of the IMV (Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicles) project to create five models on a single platform – Innova minivan, Fortuner SUV and, in fact, three versions of the truck (with a “short”, one and a half and two-row cab). There is no confusion with the past iterations! Elegant, with “tricky” slanted headlights front part made the car noticeably more streamlined: aerodynamic drag coefficient is almost the best in the class (0.36 without arch extenders). Besides, the trak has noticeably grown up. For example, the length of the four-door Double Cab is increased by 400 mm (up to 5255 mm), width – by 45-60 mm depending on the modification.
The suspension is the same in principle, but redesigned. The new frame is 45 percent stiffer. This time Hilux is equipped with 2.0 and 2.7 liter gasoline “fours” (1TR-FE and 2TR-FE respectively) and 4.0 liter V6 1GR-FE. All engines are with VVT-i variable valve timing system.
Toyota Hilux (AN120), 2015
The eighth and still current Hilux made its debut in 2015. It clearly demonstrated to the world that time has no power over a true pickup truck classic. Engineers worked in different directions: on the one hand, they strived to make their brainchild more durable, and on the other – to increase the level of comfort. The length of the “double-cab” is 5330 mm, wheelbase – 3085 mm. A new frame, two GD turbodiesels of 2.4 and 2.8 liters, 6-speed automatic transmission, three suspension options for different operating conditions and markets….
Do you like the Toyota Hilux, and if so, which generation is your favorite? Would you have any experience with it? Share your opinion in the comments!