HiLux to make an appearance this year

The next-generation HiLux can't come soon enough for Toyota Australia.

On sale here since 2006, the current model HiLux has been a huge sales winner for Toyota Australia, but the company recognised very early on that it was in the wrong phase of its model life cycle once new competitors from Ford, Mazda and Volkswagen happened along – to say nothing of the Holden Colorado/Isuzu D-MAX and an upcoming Mitsubishi Triton due this year.

Tony Cramb, Executive Director for Sales and Marketing at Toyota Australia, told journalists earlier this week that the HiLux – Australia's best selling one-tonne pick-up – outsold its nearest competitor in 2014 by 43.2 per cent.

But there are signs the competition is beginning to reel in the HiLux, with Ford noting recently that its Ranger was outselling the HiLux in New Zealand. Furthermore, the Ford increased its Aussie sales in 2014 by 4867 to 26,619, whereas HiLux slipped backwards by 1805 sales to 38,162 – which is still a huge number for any rival to top.

Australia is the third largest HiLux market in the world, and Toyota will want the new model here kicking goals at the earliest opportunity. There's little news yet, officially, from Toyota concerning the new generation HiLux however. All Tony Cramb would say is that we can expect to "see" HiLux in 2015, but would not reveal anything further – such as when the global launch will take place or when the new model will launch locally.

"HiLux is the subject of a global release [strategy], so as soon as we can, we'll let you know," he said.

"It's been previously reported that HiLux could happen this year, but I can't confirm or deny," Cramb replied to a subsequent question. That hints at a delay bringing the new model to market, based on previous information supplied by Toyota.

The Fortuner SUV, which is based on the HiLux, looks to be even further down the track. It has been on Toyota Australia's radar for at least 10 years, but the local arm has resigned itself to wait for this new generation model, which in turn has to wait for the new HiLux to be introduced.

"That is definitely something that would fit that SUV growth [pattern in Australia]..." Cramb admitted. "It's a vehicle that we would have to consider, and would be very appealing to a market like this. We do have Kluger and Prado, but there's definitely a case to say that the Fortuner would work well here in Australia.

"Whether we can secure it [for] Australia [is] the ongoing dialogue at the moment."