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Toyota conquers Antarctic in jet-fueled Hilux pickups

Zach Bowman — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Truck, Etc., Toyota, Specialty, Diesel, Off-Road

Toyota has just wrapped up another impressive Antarctic expedition, this time traversing over 43,500 miles in the span of four months. In the process, the company says it snagged a new world record with three specially-prepared Hilux pickup trucks with each covering 5,903 miles of the frozen continent. Iceland-based Arctic Trucks handled converting the pickups for their stint in the cold, and while the alterations included creating at least two 6x6 versions, the 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engines had to be reworked to consume Jet A-1 fuel. In the low temperatures of the Antarctic, standard diesel would simply turn to jelly.

The trucks were also outfitted with large tires running just 2-3 psi of air pressure, resulting in a contact patch around 17 times larger than a standard tire. Toyota reports the trucks ran incredibly well throughout the expedition and required no major repairs.

Starting last November, Toyota sent a team of 10 Hilux trucks to the far south to establish fuel depots, a weather station and to support scientific expeditions along the way. Hit the jump for the full press release.

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Toyota conquers Antarctic in jet-fueled Hilux pickups originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota UK says Top Gear boys to go on another Hilux adventure [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Truck, Etc., Toyota, Celebrities, Off-Road

The Toyota Hilux can attribute a fair portion of the its celebrity to the Top Gear crew's exuberant doting. After attempting to destroy the truck via a smattering of inhumane methods, traversing the frozen wastes of ~~Antarctica~~ the Arctic and braving the fires of Icelandic volcanoes, the show has given the globe-conquering Toyota more love than nearly any other model.

It looks as if that won't slow down anytime soon. According to Toyota, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond will once again take to the wheel of a specially-prepared Hilux for an all new challenge.

Just what will that task entail? Toyota is keeping its mouth shut at the moment, and Top Gear isn't typically one for spilling secrets early. Judging by the photos, however, it appears as if the vehicle will need to withstand substantial water crossings and support the trio for at least one night in the wild. Color us excited. Hit the jump for some of the vehicle's finer moments on the show.

UPDATE: We mistakenly said the Top Gear crew visited Antarctica, which is false as they were aiming for the North Pole in the Arctic. Thanks, Mark!

Continue reading Toyota UK says Top Gear boys to go on another Hilux adventure [w/video]

Toyota UK says Top Gear boys to go on another Hilux adventure [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Toyota Hilux proves it's as tough and unbreakable as ever

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Toyota, Australia

Top Gear showed us just how sturdy the Toyota Hilux pickup truck can be. The plucky Brit trio put one poor truck through a series of increasingly harder challenges until they finally strapped it to the roof of a building destined to be demolished. After pulling it off the pile of rubble that used to be an apartment building, the Hilux was eventually started up, and later driven into the Top Gear studio. Needless to say, this is one tough truck we're talking about here.

Toyota knows its latest Hilux is tough, too, and the automaker has decided to play up this angle for a new series of commercial spots running in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Seeking to show just how unbreakable and manly its pickup is, the machine is put through its paces over hill and dale, from the desert to the top of snow-capped mountains... and it meets some strange blokes along the way.

It's also so manly that it even makes dainty women into something barely removed from... well, her husband. Click past the jump to see for yourself.

Continue reading 2012 Toyota Hilux proves it's as tough and unbreakable as ever

2012 Toyota Hilux proves it's as tough and unbreakable as ever originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota sends four Hilux pickups across Antarctica à la Top Gear

Zach Bowman — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:56:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Toyota, Specialty

Toyota Hilux goes to Antartica - Click above for high-res image gallery

Thanks in part to the work of the crew at Top Gear, the Toyota Hilux pickup has garnered a reputation for being all but unstoppable. Whether it's being left to suffer at the hands of a rising tide, plummeting from the top of a demolished housing complex or roaming the Antarctic wastes, there just seems to be no beating the Hilux.

Toyota itself has set about showing the world just what these vehicles are capable of by taking the pickup on a brutal 2,858-mile trek across our planet's southern-most continent. During the adventure, the vehicles faced temperatures down to negative 68.8 degrees Farenheit and altitudes of over 11,100 feet.

Though the trucks were specially-prepared by the aptly-named company Artic Trucks, their 3.0-liter diesel engines were left bone stock. Over the trip, the Hilux proved it could keep pace with just about any tracked vehicle while still returning better fuel economy than just about any other expedition vehicle. That's important when a single barrel of oil can cost as much as $10,000 once it reaches the Antarctic shore. Hit the jump to check out the full press release.

Gallery: Toyota Hilux goes to Antartica

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota sends four Hilux pickups across Antarctica à la Top Gear

Toyota sends four Hilux pickups across Antarctica à la Top Gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Newsweek investigates why rebel groups always seem to be driving Toyota pickups

Zach Bowman — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:26:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Toyota, Military, Off-Road

It turns out that the Toyota Hilux isn't just a favorite with fans of Top Gear. According to Newsweek, the unbeatable little pickup from Japan is also a vital cog in various insurgent war machines around the globe. With its combination of reliability, affordability, ubiquity and capability, the bare-bones truck has been a favorite with rebel groups of various nationalities since it first hit the scene in the late '60s. In the more than 40 years since, the Hilux has shown up in conflicts from Nicaragua, Rwanda, Somalia and Ethopia to Pakistan and Iraq. If you're looking for the automotive equivalent of the AK-47, you've found it.

Newsweek even says that U.S. Special Forces has been known to make use of a Hilux or two on occasion in favor of the heavier, more cumbersome and more expensive Humvee. In most war zones, the Toyota has become the modern equivalent of light cavalry - delivering both weapons and troops over rough terrain in quick order. Throw in the fact that a .50 caliber weapon can be mounted in the bed, and the truck's versatility grows by leaps and bounds.

Head over to Newsweek to read the very interesting full article for yourself. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

[Source: Newsweek | Image: Mustafa Abdi/AFP/Getty]

Newsweek investigates why rebel groups always seem to be driving Toyota pickups originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Be like Clarkson and conquer the Arctic in a Toyota Hilux [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Europe, Toyota, Off-Road

Arctic Trucks' tours of the North Pole - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Top Gear went to the North Pole - actually, to be specific, when Jeremy Clarkson and James May went to the North Pole, they went in a Toyota Hilux prepared by Arctic Trucks in Iceland. Richard Hammond went via sled-and-dog-team, which, believe it or not, looked a lot less comfortable than the satnav-equipped Hilux.

In what seems like a predictable (yet awesome) result of that odyssey, Arctic Trucks is now offering multi-day tours of Iceland in their ultimately prepped Toyotas. Having just returned from a trip to Reykjavik and the glaciers - sadly not with these blokes - we can tell you it would be an excursion you will never forget. No, it isn't the North Pole, but we'd argue it might be even better: more variety and ~~nicer~~ people, and no polar bears.

Follow the jump to read the press release on Arctic Trucks' offerings, and to watch video of Top Gear's epic polar expedition as seen in three parts. Photos your of your balloon-tired chariot can be found in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Arctic Trucks tours of Iceland

[Source: Arctic Trucks]

Continue reading Be like Clarkson and conquer the Arctic in a Toyota Hilux [w/video]

Be like Clarkson and conquer the Arctic in a Toyota Hilux [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Australia to unveil TRD HiLux in Brisbane

Alex Nunez — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:03:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Toyota, Misc. Auto Shows, Australia

Click image for a gallery of the TRD HiLux

Last year in Melbourne, Toyota showed off a TRD Hilux concept truck. At the time, we commented that the supercharged show truck looked pretty production ready, and thet Aussies would likely see the "concept" part of the name dropped in the future. Well, the future is now -- or February, at least. That's when Toyota Australia pulls the wraps off the production TRD Hilux, which gets the bodywork, wheels, and graphics you see here. Power numbers haven't been released yet for its blown 4.0L V6, but you can expect something in the general neighborhood of 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft underhood, along with upgraded brakes and suspension. The Outback beckons...

[Source: Toyota]

Gallery: TRD HiLux Concept

Continue reading Toyota Australia to unveil TRD HiLux in Brisbane

Toyota Australia to unveil TRD HiLux in Brisbane originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Melbourne: Toyota shows off TRD versions of Aurion sedan and HiLux pickup

Alex Nunez — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Truck, Toyota, Misc. Auto Shows

Click image for TRD Aurion gallery. TRD HiLux gallery below.

TRD didn't just show off its new Corolla-based rally car at the Melbourne Motor Show. The Aussie wing of Toyota's factory motorsports arm also pulled the sheets off a new production car, the TRD Aurion, and a near-production-looking concept in the TRD HiLux pickup. The emergence of the special Aurion represents the world debut of TRD as a vehicle brand, opening the door for TRD versions of just about anything the automaker sets its mind to.

The TRD Aurion doesn't play around, either. This better-looking (much better looking in fact) Aussie version of the Camry gets a blown 3.5L V6 good for at least 320 horsepower. Some of you will notice that the TRD production car is essentially a dead ringer for the Aurion Sports Concept (gallery) that made its debut at the Sydney Motor Show back in October. We think the production car looks better, with less grey in the nose and much nicer-looking wheels. Sadly, Toyota thinks that the Camry has to look boring in our market. Come on guys, this look and the supercharged engine would go a long way towards making people think of the car as something other than an inoffensive, boring appliance.

Joining the TRD Aurion at the Toyota Stand is a TRD HiLux concept pickup. The four-door short-bed truck sports TRD graphics, a black roll bar, and a supercharged 4.0L V6. No power numbers were given. TRD only says that HiLux concept's engine is good for "substantially more" than the 234 horses the standard HiLux produces. If we had to guess, we'd say that our friends in Oz can look for the "concept" part of the HiLux's name to be dropped in the future.

[Source: Toyota]

Gallery: TRD Aurion

Gallery: TRD HiLux Concept

Continue reading Melbourne: Toyota shows off TRD versions of Aurion sedan and HiLux pickup

Melbourne: Toyota shows off TRD versions of Aurion sedan and HiLux pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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