TOKYO: The release of the 2016 Toyota HiLux is getting closer and closer, and the truck doesn’t really need any special marketing to boost its popularity. Right now, it’s enjoying a lot of hype, and many people are waiting for it to finally arrive to the market. At the same time, we’ve been getting various details and small rumors about the new model, and so far we seem to have most of the puzzle’s pieces.
The new 2016 HiLux is going to come with various improvements to the line, both on the outside as well as the inside, and even though we’ve seen some pretty detailed official shots of the truck’s exterior, what’s on the inside remains largely a mystery. Sure, there were a few unofficial shots released that allegedly showed what the truck looks like on the inside, but it wasn’t until recently that we got a full release of details from the company’s Australian branch that gave some insight into the interior.
Along with the release came a note, reminding people that the pictures are from a pre-production model of the car and may not reflect the final edition all the way. Still, what we saw in those pictures was good enough on its own, and it’s pretty clear that Toyota have put some effort into renewing the car’s interior and making it look more fresh and interesting.
The company is pretty confident about how people are going to receive the new model, claiming that they have implemented various improvements to its design that make it an even more comfortable ride, with extra head and shoulder room, and it offers even more customization options than before.
There is some advanced technology featured in the new model as well, as drivers will get to use an all-new touchscreen to control the various features of the car, including navigation and Bluetooth audio. The menu is styled like a tablet operating system for the most part, and it looks very comfortable to use, offering a clear design and quick access to all relevant options.
On the other hand, the new HiLux does have manual controls too, positioned directly underneath the touchscreen panel, and there are even some physical buttons for certain features. This is good, because as great as touchscreens are, they’re not 100% reliable and it’s good to have a backup option for the more important instruments in case something fails in the touchscreen.
Something else that critics have been pointing out about the new model is the increased focus on safety and security, with various features that should make it a much more reliable ride, especially for families. There should be no more blind spots with the various cameras that have been added to the truck in different spots, and it also comes with new advanced safety tech features, such as traction control, anti-skid brakes and more.
In the meantime, some people have been pointing out a peculiar similarity between this model and the 2016 Fortuner, claiming that they actually look quite similar to the previous entries in each other’s line, and some members of the press have even made joking references to the movie “Face/Off” which featured a similar premise between a gangster and a law enforcement officer. Of course, it should come as no surprise that the two models are somewhat similar, as the Fortuner was actually based on the HiLux at some point, although it followed a different design concept overall, paying more attention to elegance and a direct modern approach. That’s not to say that the HiLux lacks any elegance, but it’s designed in a somewhat different way, focusing on slightly different aspects of it.