2022 Toyota Hilux GR Sport Debuts In Europe With A New Face And Tweaked Suspension

Toyota Europe has just announced the Hilux GR Sport, the new flagship variant of the pickup inspired by its Dakar Rally counterpart, featuring design and suspension upgrades. Notably, the EU-spec Hilux GR Sport is different from the JDM-spec model bearing the same name, and from the Hilux Revo GR Sport unveiled last year in Thailand.

Starting with the exterior, the Hilux GR Sport is visually distinguished by a redesigned front bumper featuring a huge honeycomb grille with Toyota lettering, a G-pattern mesh, and a glossy black surround. The front end also benefits from taller decorative intakes incorporating the fog lights, plus a body-colored skid plate. Other than that, the flagship trim gets the LED headlights from the higher trims of the facelifted Hilux that was unveiled in 2020.

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The EU-spec Hilux GR Sport (right) is visually distinguished from both the JDM-spec model (top left) and the Thai-spec Hilux Revo GR-Sport (bottom left) that were unveiled a few months ago.

On the profile, the 17-inch alloy wheels shod in all-terrain tires feature black and machined finish, and are combined with plastic fender extensions, black mirror caps, and side-steps. GR Sport badges have been added on the grille, front doors, and tailgate rounding up the changes.

Inside, Toyota added a pair of GR Sport-branded sports seats upholstered in black leather and synthetic suede featuring red perforations and stitching. The GR Sport emblem is also present on the carpet, the start-stop button, and as a welcoming graphic on the screen. Last but not least there are faux carbon-fiber inserts, aluminum sports pedals, a red line on the dashboard, and – weirdly- blue illumination on the door panels.

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As all of the members of the GR Sport family, the Hilux gets an upgraded suspension. The new monotube shocks and the stiffened front coil springs have been painted in red highlighting the changes. At the rear, the Hilux GR Sport retains the leaf-spring setup of the lesser variants. Thus, the one-tonne payload and the 3.5-tonne towing capacity (braked) remain unchanged.

According to Toyota, the suspension of the GR Sport delivers “significant improvements in handling characteristics, including steering effort and steering angle response, straight-line performance, a flat ride, and reassuring roll and rear grip feel” while improving ride comfort thanks to its “fast response to high-frequency vibrations” and its “increased damping capability”.

Under the bonnet, there is the same 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine producing 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) and 368 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque which was introduced with the 2020 facelift. Power is transmitted to all four wheels exclusively through a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, with the help of a standard automatic limited-slip differential.

The EU-Spec Toyota Hilux GR Sport is expected to reach European dealers in summer 2022. Pricing will be announced closer to the launch.

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