Toyota Hilux development engineers hit Kiwi dirt with the new ute
Words: Andrew Sluys
Toyota New Zealand recently hosted a group of Hilux development engineers, who experienced the new ute in true Kiwi conditions.
The group consisted of Anyarat Sutthibenjakul, Regional Chief Engineer, Sankom Pasri, Deputy General Manager of the Vehicle Performance Engineering Department, and Takeshi Tanabe, Executive Advisor to the Regional Design team, all within Toyota Motor Asia.
According to Toyota New Zealand, the group wanted to meet Hilux owners and hear first-hand how they use their vehicles and fully appreciate the unique conditions Kiwi drivers face.
The next-generation Hilux was their vehicle of choice for the trip, in which they got off the beaten track in the South Island.
Speaking on this trip in the new Hilux, Sutthibenjakul said:
“The purpose of the trip to New Zealand was to understand more about the market. This is my first time in New Zealand. I have been to many places in the world: Asia, Europe, America, South Africa and the Middle East. So, I know how customers use the Hilux, but not New Zealand.
“It’s very attractive and very different from other countries. There are so many locations that I have never experienced before. After seeing the real conditions, the real uses, and talking with Hilux customers, I have strong confidence that what we developed this time for the new Hilux will fit and serve customers well in this country,” she says.
As Toyota sells its Hilux in more than 180 markets across the globe, it needs to be suited to varied environments, and New Zealand can offer some of the harshest.
Particular attention was reportedly paid to how well the Hilux handles without any load in the tray, as it’s how a lot of Kiwi drivers will use it a lot of the time.
“Normally when testing a new Hilux we would carry the full payload and evaluate the vehicle on the full payload condition. But if a customer is driving only with themselves or one passenger, they may feel a bounce.
“There is some vibration when the ute has not got the full load. So we changed a way of thinking and a way of evaluating the vehicle, and we made a new suspension journey to meet the most common usage conditions of the customer,” Sutthibenjakul added.
This new Toyota Hilux will go on sale locally early next year.
