The Toyota Hilux pickup was slated to be launched in the country this month, and deliveries of the vehicle were expected to start in April. But now, the official launch of the upcoming Hilux has been delayed, and the booking process has been halted for the moment. As per the official website of Toyota, the booking process has been suspended temporarily owing to various factors affecting the supply and to save the customers from inconvenience.
Although the actual cause of the delay has not been revealed, speculation indicates that it is related to the continuing issue in China with the reappearance of the COVID-19 virus, a semiconductor chip shortage, and the Ukraine-Russia war. Toyota was forced to temporarily halt manufacturing at its Japanese operations owing to an increase in COVID-19 cases. It is now likely to debut in April, with deliveries starting in May 2022.
Ahead of its official introduction to the market, the first units of the pickup have started reaching the dealerships already. The Hilux is a lifestyle pickup truck built on the IMV2 platform, which also serves as the foundation for the Innova Crysta and Fortuner. Toyota will sell the Hilux in two trim levels: STD (standard) and High.
Along with sharing exterior elements with the Fortuner and Innova Crysta, the 2022 Toyota Hilux also shares the interior as well. Starting from the dashboard layout to an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a TFT MID unit in the instrument panel, automatic climate control, a powered driver’s seat and more.
In terms of powertrain, the Hilux is powered by the 2.8-litre, four-cylinder, 204 bhp diesel engine of the Toyota Fortuner. Moreover, the India-spec model’s transmission options are not confirmed yet, but we can anticipate it to come with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. As far as pricing is concerned, the Hilux will most likely be available at a price of Rs 25–32 lakh (ex-showroom).
