Toyota Hilux Lifestyle Pickup spied, could be launched in India soon

We caught the lifestyle pickup truck from Toyota, the Hilux, ferrying on Delhi roads. For the uninitiated, the new Fortuner is based on the pickup and this reason is strong enough to get anyone curious about it. The Hilux received the next-gen model months before the new Fortuner was launched. It might be an unheard term in this part of the world but the Hilux isn’t an alien term globally, and has proven its worth since its inception in 1968. Till now, over 16 million units of the Hilux have been sold worldwide.

As the Hilux shares most of the parts with the Fortuner and the Innova Crysta, assembling the Hilux in India shouldn’t be a difficult task for the Japanese automaker. Since the Fortuner 4x4 version is priced above Rs 30 lakh, expect a similar price point for this monster.  

The lifestyle vehicles have lately become more important, with the fast changing perspective of Indian buyers no longer viewing a vehicle just as a source to commute from point A to B. With the number of millennials increasing, the buying capacity of the market has gone up. People are now more open to opt for vehicles like hot hatches, compact SUVs, executive saloons, lifestyle pickups and other premium cars.

Not only Toyota, we think the other globally recognised pickup trucks like the Ford Ranger and the Chevrolet Colorado should also be considered for introduction in India as the market is fast developing an appetite for this.

The Ford Ranger has been rallying around the globe for several generations now. Sharing several cues with the Ford Everest/Endeavour, the Ranger is no short of a practical vehicle as it carries the charismatic looks, powerful engines and proven capabilities of the Endy. Having started its journey in 1983, the Ranger’s price can be expected to fall near the Trend AWD version of the Endeavour (Rs 26.6 lakh).

Similarly, the Colorado lifestyle pickup truck is yet another pickup-cousin of an SUV, the Trailblazer. Showcased at the 2016 New Delhi Auto Expo, it was meant to assess the eyeballs it manages to grab, and it certainly did catch enough of them.

Introducing the Colorado in India shouldn’t be difficult as Chevy already sells the Trailblazer and the pickup shares most of the structure with the SUV.Presently, we have the Tata Xenon XT and Mahindra Scorpio Getaway in this segment, not to forget the lately launched Isuzu D-Max V-Cross. Among the three, it’s the D-Max that costs the maximum – Rs 13.30 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Source: CarDekho.com