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    21 November 2017

    Ford Australia's upcoming Ranger Raptor might be an off-road muscle ute, but it won't be the first

    By James LisleJames Lisle
    • Forgotten about this rare example of Japanese spontaneity? I don't blame you. Forgotten about this rare example of Japanese spontaneity? I don't blame you.
    • Apart from the FPV F6X, is this the most overly forgotten Australian performance car from this century? Apart from the FPV F6X, is this the most overly forgotten Australian performance car from this century?

    While the Americas and other parts of the world are familiar with the concept of a high-performance, dual-cab 4x4, the Australian market isn’t.

    Sure, back the day we’ve had go-fast XW GTs, 350 HQs - and in recent years the odd F6 Tornado and Maloo - but we haven’t really had the Australian equivalent of a dual-cab performance car. Not something like the Dodge RAM SRT-10 or the Shelby Raptor. Or have we?

    Launched in 2008 in order to directly compete with… well, nobody really, the TRD HiLux was one of the most weirdly niche cars on the Australian market.

    • The TRD badges add an extra 5kW The TRD badges add an extra 5kW
    • Don't expect any individual throttle bodies here. It may have a supercharger, but the performance is balanced with rugged, low-stress durability. Don't expect any individual throttle bodies here. It may have a supercharger, but the performance is balanced with rugged, low-stress durability.
    • "We've put in that two-tone leather steering wheel and it doesn't look out of place at all..." "We've put in that two-tone leather steering wheel and it doesn't look out of place at all..."
    • 'TRD' embossed leather seats - could be interesting for the person who doesn't know what the expansion is. 'TRD' embossed leather seats - could be interesting for the person who doesn't know what the expansion is.

    Fitted out with a four-litre, quad-cam, supercharged V6 petrol, the TRD HiLux punched out a hefty 225kW (301hp) and 453Nm. Or about an extra 49kW and 77Nm over the standard HiLux V6.

    That mightn't sound like much, but remember this was back when the tradie market was actually for tradies - not suburban mums and dads bored with adept cars  designed to 'meet their needs'. Hence the inclusion of the standard car’s centre locking differential and low-range transfer case.

    To compare, the most powerful versions of the Holden Colorado and Ford Ranger punched out 157kW and 115kW, respectively. This jump in power was a huge leap for the segment and one that was randomly delivered by Toyota of all companies. Who would’ve thought?  

    Power was sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed auto; resulting in a 0-100km/h sprint in just 7.2 seconds and fuel consumption of 12.9 L/100km.

    • Toyota could've easily extracted more power from the DOHC engine, but probably decided not to further stress - or upgrade - any of the off-road components. Toyota could've easily extracted more power from the DOHC engine, but probably decided not to further stress - or upgrade - any of the off-road components.
    • Toyota said that they "clearly understood short-term profitability was unlikely", but yet they still gave it a go. Good on 'em. Toyota said that they "clearly understood short-term profitability was unlikely", but yet they still gave it a go. Good on 'em.

    However, while Toyota’s comparable TRD Aurion was in a solid fistfight with HSV and FPV, the TRD HiLux was all alone.

    It was much slower than the Maloo and F6 Tornado, was nowhere near as practical as the Colorado and Ranger, and - thanks to pricing starting at $59,990 - it was a bit of a stretch for the average tradesman.

    Combine these marketing issues with the fact that Toyota only managed to shift 351 units in 16 months, and the TRD HiLux was destined for an early retirement.

    But hey, if you compare the TRD's flaws to the buying trends of cars nowadays, all Toyota should've done was launch it three or four years later. It would've been a massive success. Probably...

    What do you think of the TRD HiLux - would you've bought one instead of a ute from HSV or FPV? What about now? Would you have the Ranger Raptor?

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