Report: Aussie-Spec Toyota Hilux GR Sport Set to Debut in The Philippines

Australians love their Toyota Hilux-es, and it is no surprise that Toyota Australia has come up with a special version of the Hilux GR Sport – which is significantly beefier and more rugged compared to what we’ve got here. While this Aussie-spec Hilux GR Sport is fully-imported (CBU) from Thailand, it seems that our northern neighbour won’t be the first in the region to get this souped-up truck.

The Aussie-spec Toyota Hilux GR Sport is reportedly coming to the Philippines!

According to Filipino-based automotive publication Autoindustriya, it seems that the Philippines will be the first in the ASEAN region to officially get the Aussie-spec Hilux GR Sport model. Sources close to said news outlet reported that the first batch of this beefy Hilux has already made its way into the Philippines shores, with more of them to come later this month.

This beefy truck is powered by the same 2.8-litre 4-cyl turbodiesel mill as the ASEAN-spec Hilux GR Sport (right), albeit with higher state-of-tune

Similar to the Aussie market, this Philippines-bound Hilux GR Sport reportedly will also be a CBU unit from Thailand, which is expectedly to mirror the specs and visuals as its twin at the Land Down Under. While employing the same 2.8-litre 4-cyl turbodiesel mill as the ASEAN-spec Hilux GR-Sport (stylised as GR-S), this beefier model receives a higher state-of-tune, capable of delivering 224 PS and 550 NM. For context, the ‘standard’ Hilux GR-S is rated only at 204 PS and 500 NM.

Visually, however, is the easiest way to tell the two models apart, as the Aussie-spec Hilux GR Sport boasts a very rugged and aggressive facade, featuring prominent fenders, and a more aggressive front bumper with skid plate. Meanwhile, this souped-up truck also gets a slew of familiar GR Sport touch-ups like the GR badging on both ends, as well as a gloss black-hued front grille with Toyota lettering.

Beyond the cosmetics upgrade and powertrain tune-up, this beefier Hilux GR Sport also gets a GR-tuned damper setting, with KYB monotube shock absorbers, as well as tougher Bridgestone Dueler A/T (all-terrain) tyres wrapping its 17-inch Dakar-inspired alloy wheels – finished in gloss black.

The ASEAN-spec Toyota Hilux GR-Sport is currently on-sale in the Philippines, priced from PHP 2.077 million

Currently, Toyota Motor Philippines only listed the ASEAN-spec Toyota Hilux GR-S on its website, which is also fully-imported from Thailand. With this ‘standard’ Hilux GR-S already tagged at PHP 2.077 million (RM168,770), we can expect this beefier model will command a heftier price tag, should they eventually make their way into the Philippines market as reported.

Would you prefer this beefier Aussie-spec Hilux GR Sport (left) over the ASEAN-spec ones (right) we got here?

Aside from Australia, the beefier Toyota Hilux GR Sport is also now available for sale in yet another right-hand-driven (RHD) market, which is the UK. With this model already made its debut in two RHD markets, it is somewhat bizarre to think that an LHD market would be its next destination, so much so after considering the fact that this model is yet to be available in its ‘birthplace’ market Thailand, which is also an RHD market.

Aussie-spec Toyota Hilux GR Sport (left) & Ford Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo Diesel (right)

Regardless of where this beefy truck ended up after this, we at Caricarz certainly won’t mind seeing this Hilux GR Sport going against its newly-launched American rival, the Ford Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo Diesel, which features a slightly lower power output of 210 PS and 500 NM. As for which is the better truck of these two, that’s an argument for another day…