New Toyota Prado in August

Update, May 11: Sources have advised motoring.com.au that the Prado will ditch its current 3.0-litre turbo-diesel for the same 2.8-litre four-cylinder that’s slated for the next HiLux. Toyota will also drop the current five-speed automatic for a six-speed transmission in the Prado – also believed to be on offer in the next HiLux. Little else is known at this stage, other than the GXL gaining satellite navigation as standard, and the Kakadu scoring rear-cross traffic alert.

Toyota Australia will launch an upgraded Prado in August, motoring.com.au has learned.

It's unclear exactly what changes the 2015 Prado will bring less than two years after it received a major midlife makeover in November 2013, but we understand it will be subject to a similar 'tech change' earmarked for the larger 200 Series LandCruiser by year's end.

The revised version of Australia's top-selling large SUV so far this year will be just one of 10 new or facelifted models Toyota promised to release Down Under in the 12 months from February, not including minor model updates already seen this year, for the 86 coupe, HiAce van and Coaster bus.

Only one of the 10 Toyotas has been released so far (the updated 2015 Prius c hybrid hatch and the facelifted Camry and Camry Hybrid will be the second – next week.

After that in June will come the facelifted version of Toyota's larger Australian-made sedan, the Aurion, and in the same month we'll see the local release of the facelifted Prius v hybrid people-mover.

Toyota's facelifted Corolla hatch will arrive here around July, ahead of the 2015 Prado, LandCruiser and all-new HiLux ute in the second half of this year.

Toyota's hybrid model range renewal will be completed in the first quarter of next year, when it launches the fourth generation of its original Prius hatch.

Development of the Mk4 Prius, which will replace Mk3 on sale here since 2009, has taken longer than usual because it is based on Toyota's all-new global modular chassis architecture and powered by a new hybrid powertrain.

However, a Toyota spokesman told motoring.com.au the new Prius remains on target for local launch here early next year, when it will once again be available in petrol-electric hybrid guise – unlike the mains-rechargeable Prius Plug-in Hybrid, production of which ends in the US next month in preparation for its replacement.

Toyota says it remains committed to releasing 10 new models here by March 2016, and the last of them is understood to be the Fortuner.

The release of the all-new seven-seat off-road SUV – a direct rival for Ford's upcoming Everest – within months of the new HiLux upon which it's based was first reported by motoring.com.au earlier this year.