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Sam Charlwood17 Apr 2018
NEWS

Toyota reveals HiLux Rugged X, Rugged and Rogue pricing

Toyota’s new flagship offerings priced from $54,990

Toyota has formally revealed its rival offerings to the Ford Ranger Wildtrak, Volkswagen Amarok V6 and Mercedes-Benz X-Class with three new flagship HiLux models.

The HiLux Rugged, Rugged X and Rogue hit showrooms from later this week, bringing styling and capability enhancements over the regular eighth-generation HiLux. However, there are no significant mechanical changes.

Pricing for the Rugged starts at $54,990 ($56,900 for automatic), cutting in below the current SR5 on which it is based. The automatic-only Rogue starts at $61,690 and the Rugged X starts at $61,690 ($63,690 for automatic).

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Toyota’s strategy positions the trio well below the the highly-anticipated Ford Ranger Raptor ($74,990), HSV Colorado SportsCat+ automatic ($68,990), the high-spec Volkswagen Amarok V6 ($68,490) and the flagship version of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class ($64,500).

However, the HiLux features enhancements that centre more on styling and capability than many of those key rivals.

Toyota Australia vice president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley said the enhancements will be fitted locally from a new Port Melbourne production line that employs 38 people, mostly using local suppliers.

The trio is expected to yield about 6000 HiLux sales each year, split roughly between 4000 Rugged and Rugged X and 2000 sales for Rogue.

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“These three utes are full-time additions to our line-up. They meet customer demands that go above and beyond our current HiLux range,” he said.

“They also stand out because they are designed and developed in Australia. They are totally engineered and integrated right here and are covered by a full factory warranty.”

The changes on the Rugged X begin with a fully-integrated front bar made from high-tensile steel, and fashioned to ensure carry-over approach and departure angles. The bar also integrates an extended LED lighting strip.

Underneath resides a 5mm thick high-strength alloy bashplate that is winch-compatible, offering off-road recovery hooks that are rated to 8000kg.

To compensate for the added 207kg most concentrated over the front, Toyota has introduced new front spring rates. The Rugged X features carry-over approach angle but improved cornering angle of 45 degrees.

The Rugged X wears 17-inch alloy wheels, surrounded by moulded wheel arches. Further back lives new heavy duty steel side steps, or ‘rock rails’, that have been tested extensively off road.

At the rear sits a four-piece sports bar that can hold up to 75kg of vertical mass or assist with tying down a 200kg load in the tray. A heavy duty rear bar with more recovery points can be found at the rear, along with a tow bar that offers up to 3500kg of braked towing capacity.

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One peg down in the line-up, the regular Rugged is differentiated by a more traditional bulbar on its snout to suit the HiLux’s legion of country drivers. It shares rock rails, heavy duty rear bar and sports bar and tub protection as the Rugged X.

The Rogue treads a slightly different, more urban path. Designed for lifestyle-oriented buyers, it was designed in Australia but engineered in Thailand and is based also on the SR5.

It also features a revised Americanised trapezoidal front grille and improved functionality from the tray, including the same sports bar as the Rogue. A hard lid with gas struts and a remote light, covers the tray area, which is adorned in marine-grade carpet.

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Inside, the special edition HiLux trio stands out with a dark roof lighting and new driver instrument cluster graphics.

While they have been tested locally by Toyota Australia’s vehicle evaluation department, no flagship HiLux model has any modifications to their ladder frame chassis or 2.8-litre 130kW/450Nm (420Nm auto) turbo-diesel engine.

The added weight on Rugged X contributes to an increased fuel economy rating of 8.6L/100km, up 0.1 per cent.

General manager of product planning and development Rod Ferguson said the program development for all three models began in early 2015.

“The Rugged models in particular have been completely designed and engineered right here in Australia,” he said, noting that the Rogue shared development between Australia and Thailand.

“We wanted to offer a HiLux that builds on its highly capable off-road ability."

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