Production Models

Toyota Motor Philippines has grown a lineup of models inspired and/or developed using what the Japanese carmaker learned from its participation in the world of motorsports.

This lineup carries the GR tag for Gazoo Racing, Toyota's motorsports division.

Already the local GR lineup includes the GR Supra and the GR Yaris.

Toyota has also introduced models that have gotten the GR treatment. These include the Vios GR-S, the Fortuner GR-S, and the Hilux GR-S.

According to Toyota, rolling out the Hilux GR-S is in line with Toyota Gazoo Racing's ambition to bring exhilaration, the joy of driving and sport performance to Toyotas, including the pickup truck.

So what has the GR treatment given the Hilux GR-S?

The Hilux GR-S looks both sleek and sporty but at the same time it exudes a tough and powerful presence on the road, taking up space that's 5320 millimeters long, 1900mm wide and 1815 mm tall.

There's not much to distinguish the GR-S exterior from that of other Hilux variants. It comes with the same B-Beam LED headlamps with Auto-Leveling functin, LED Daylight Running Lights, LED Front Fog Lamps, and LED Rear Combination Lamp with Line Guide.

However, the wide overfenders with black garnish are body-colored in the Hilux GR-S and the Sports Bar with the LED Deck Lamp comes in Gloss Black color.

Then there's the 18-inch GR Design Alloy Wheels wrapped by 265/60 R18 tires. The spare is a ground tire with steel wheel.

The Hilux GR-S doesn't come with roof ornament and side decals. A Fin-type antenna takes the place of the pole-type antenna found in other Hilux variants.

The GR-S also features a bedliner, intermittent windshield wipers with time adjust, hoodlift and tailgate assist functions, as well as outside rear view mirrors that power adjust and fold.

There are more distinguishing features made to the GR-S interior. Most conspicuous is the suede and leather with red stitch upholstery for the seats.

The driver's seat power adjusts 8 ways but the front passenger seat only adjusts four ways manually.

The rear benchseat seat can be folded up 60:40.

The steering wheel gets the leather with red stitches and the GR emblem, and comes with paddle shifters (a sporty touch) and controls for the audio and phone and the 4.2-inch TFT Multi-Information Display on the instrument panel on the dashboard.

The Hilux GR-S is also equipped with virtually all of the comfort and convenience features found in the Conquest: Smart Keyless Entry and Push Start System, power windows with auto up and down function with jam protect; speed-sensing doorlocks, dual zone automatic airconditioning, cruise control, two 12-volt accessory outlets.

As in the Hilux Conquest, the GR-S also comes with an 8-inch display audio system with AM/FM Radio, Bluetooth, USB, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Smart Device Link, Miracast and six speakers.

The Toyota Hilux GR-S rolled out locally is powered by a 2.8-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with intercooler capable of generating 204 ps and 500 Newton-meters of torque.

The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 4x4 drivetrain that comes with auto disconnect differential and differential lock.

The Hilux GR-S suspension was upgraded to make it even more capable of driving on the roughest of terrains.

Monotube shock absorbers were used with the front double wishbones and rear leafsprings on the Hilux.

The brake system was also upgraded by using GR Brake Calipers on the front ventilated discs, although the rear still got your basic drums.

And like all new Hilux variants that the GR-S comes standard with Anti-Lock Brakes System with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution and Brake Assist, as well as Vehicle Stability Control and Hill Start Assist.

Like all Hilux Conquest variants, the Hilux GR-S also comes with DownHill Assist Control as a well as Panoramic View Camera and Monitor that along with six clearance and back sonar sensors - two in front and four in the rear-makes it a breeze to park the pickup.

Also added for safety in the GR-S are driver, front passenger, side, curtain shield and knee airbags; 3-point ELR seatbelts for five with pretensioner and force limiter for the driver and front seat passenger; a child restraint system using ISOFIX and tether anchors, and the Toyota Vehicle Security System with Immobilizer.

The Toyota Hilux GR-S comes with much of the bells and whistles that should make it deserve the Gazoo Racing tag. Maybe we'll see some soon at the Philippine Rallycross Series that's making it return this year.

Toyota Hilux GR-S - 2,005,000