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2012 Toyota HiLux Diesel Pickup

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Little secret about this truck

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Toyota has sold the HiLux overseas for years. I remember seeing them in the Arabian desert in early 2001. There are several mentions of Europe in the link so I doubt they will be offered in the US market. Nissan appears to be testing a Cummins Titan and the news seems to be that it will be offered in 2015. Ed B
 
Hard to summarize, so I'll let this website link do it.

It's not thoroughly up to date to 2012, but gives pretty good insight to what a Hilux is compared to what we in North America know as a Toyota truck.

Hiluxdifferences


I've driven a 2009 diesel Hilux double cab 4x4 quite a bit in South America. The trucks are WAY better in almost every way than a typical Tacoma. It's really a shame we don't get them here, but I understand part of the reason why.

In Brazil, you can purchase a 2011 Dodge Ram 2500 quad cab shortbox 4x4 with a 5. 9 Cummins for 109,000 Brazilian dollars (Reals). A 2011 Toyota Hilux double cab 4x4 turbodiesel is 10,000 Reals more. A lot of that has to do with the Brazilian import duties, but I would venture to guess that a Hilux, as equipped in the rest of the world, would run close to $50,000USD here.

Would you buy a compact diesel pickup for 50 grand?
 
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There is a big market for a ½ ton diesel pickup in the US. Dodge should have been on this years ago.



Am I correct?
 
Toyota says that there is not enough interest in the diesel product in the USA for them to bother bringing them in... ..... Time to make some NOISE guys!!!!!
 
Making a small Diesel meet US/Canada emissions prices them out of the market. It makes a 3/4T cheaper than it's 1/2T equivalent. The EPA has tightened up truck emissions (and driven up the price) so now smaller Diesel trucks might have a chance. It's the NOx that's the problem. Higher temperatures means better fuel economy but higher NOx. In Europe Diesels have easier NOx requirements.
 
Hmmm lets see..... Prices them out of the market????? Funny that VW has No problem selling the TDI versions of their cars and SUV's at any price and last I checked they met our emission requirements. In fact they sell before they even hit the dealer floor around here. The fact is that Detroit does not know that we really want that small or mid size truck with a diesel that would give great fuel mpg. That or as my GrandFather always said that the oil companies control everything Like I said before it's time to make some NOISE!!!!
 
IMHO, A Half ton Diesel or a similar setup that was available with the 5. 9 Cummins with the upgraded drivetrain was outstanding. A smaller I-6 or I-5 diesel with cast iron block AND head would be perfect. I dont like V-configurations. Just old fashioned, I reckon. What is wrong with tried and true? Why do we need to reinvent the wheel every time we have reached a plateau of quality and reliability?

Focus on maintainability and simplicity should be the next step. GregH
 
Ford killed the Ranger here due to poor sales. Price and fuel economy numbers were so close to the F-150 that people stepped up to the full size platform over the Ranger, since it was closing in on $31,000 fully equipped and only offered a few more MPG than the F-150.

In Brazil specifically, The Ford Ranger equipped with a 3. 0L "Powerstroke" inline 4 diesel engine is a HUGELY popular pickup truck, in a double cab 4x4 configuration. BUT, it competes with the Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Triton which are both better vehicles than the Brazilian Rangers.


There is a gigantic world of really cool little diesel powered toys all across the world that we'll probably never see in North America. You can thank the EPA, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and crappy fuel for that.
 
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Toyota probably will never bring the Hilux here, no matter how much noise we make.

They built the FJ Cruiser as a concept vehicle; a modern version of the old FJ40 Landcruiser. They never intended on producing it, but the "noise" was made by enthusiasts and Toyota listened, so the offered it in 2007.

Well, a bunch of idiots bought it the first year and Toyota saw huge sales numbers, so it continued. Then, most of those idiots started whining about blind spots, rough ride, "Jeep-like" handling, and how it wasn't a good family soccer mom commuter vehicle. (duh). Then the automotive press started whining about it's "carbon footprint" and how it looked "scary" and sales numbers started dropping... . so Toyota killed it and the majority of Americans, most who don't even know the history of the FJ lineup from days gone by, assume Toyota failed at an attempt to compete with the Wrangler... ... .

Add that too how the Tacoma quality has gone downhill since the truck was enlarged for the "American" market place, the fuel-hog Tundra that is no more reliable of a 1/2 ton that anything else built in America (imagine that) and then the gooberment and IIHS going after Toyota for a bunch of "safety issues" that conveniently coincided with the gooberment bailout of American car companies, and we're lucky that Toyota even stays in the American market to begin with.

BUT, Americans buy vehicles as often as they buy new shoes so everybody wants a piece.

Having 20,000 vocal truck enthusiasts saying "bring us a compact diesel truck" won't allow it to happen---heck back in the 80's EVERYBODY had a compact diesel pickup, and the American average Joe uneducated-about-cars-consumers still are programmed to think all diesel vehicles are stinky and slow.....


just my rant.
 
IMHO, A Half ton Diesel or a similar setup that was available with the 5. 9 Cummins with the upgraded drivetrain was outstanding. A smaller I-6 or I-5 diesel with cast iron block AND head would be perfect. I dont like V-configurations. Just old fashioned, I reckon. What is wrong with tried and true? Why do we need to reinvent the wheel every time we have reached a plateau of quality and reliability?

Focus on maintainability and simplicity should be the next step. GregH



Because the majority of people who "consume" vehicles in America are hypocritical about their needs. They want huge power, excellent economy, safety, reliability, in a monster size chassis that gets 43mpg and costs less than $20,000.



AND... it has too be newer than their neighbors. AND it has to be "cooler" than their neighbors.



Kinda the same things that caused all the new calibers in the last 15 years... or TVs..... or cell phones..... or computers.



Just because something works great isn't good enough--it has to be the "best" and the "most powerful" and the "latest technology" and "most advanced" and "best looking" to be successful in the standard American consumer market.
 
I agree! That concept can be carried into SUV's and smaller pickups! They can be made BETTER without making them obnoxious in price, size or fuel economy related. However, the marketing, love at first sight, concept is pushed ahead of already proven form, color and overall appearance. The perfecting of the internal combustion engine, better drivetrains, reliability and maintainability are always last on the ticket.

I was given the opportunity to do a rather lengthy survey sent out by Subaru.

They asked mostly about "my feelings" when driving a Subaru. (Yes I have one:-laf) I have owned 4 over the last 18 years and find them to be 80% adequate for my general transportation needs. (When you need a truck, there is no substitute:D). They only touched on engine, drive train and mechanics in the survey. The entire survey was geared to fine tuning their marketing approach. I voted neutral on all the touchy-feely stuff and hit em as hard as possible on engine, (including diesel tech), drivetrain, maintainance and specific reliability issues.

I told them the #1 item affecting my choice in a vehicle purchase was usage with historical and projected reliability for that category. #2 was economy for the vehicle type.

"Feeling like" a millionaire(which I am not:-laf), a stud:rolleyes:, a "fighter pilot:cool:" or a professional race car driver;) are not on my list of needs.

GregH
 
"back in the 80s everybody had a small diesel pickup" yah name one of those that WASNT stinky and slow... ... .

A 200 horse 1/2 ton or compact could be easily made and would be more than sufficient for most folks.
 
IMHO, A Half ton Diesel or a similar setup that was available with the 5. 9 Cummins with the upgraded drivetrain was outstanding. A smaller I-6 or I-5 diesel with cast iron block AND head would be perfect. I dont like V-configurations. Just old fashioned, I reckon. What is wrong with tried and true? Why do we need to reinvent the wheel every time we have reached a plateau of quality and reliability?

Focus on maintainability and simplicity should be the next step. GregH



Don't think they'll offer a 5. 9 Cummins in a ½ ton PU. Too much engine.
 
If Toyota Killed the FJ, then why did I see new ones at the San Diego International Auto Show on Friday? Am I seeing New Old Stock or was it really killed?
 
"back in the 80s everybody had a small diesel pickup" yah name one of those that WASNT stinky and slow... ... .



A 200 horse 1/2 ton or compact could be easily made and would be more than sufficient for most folks.



The Mitsubishi/Dodge D50 was the exception, but it was pricey compared to the others. There is no market IMO for a diesel half-ton. It will be the same size as an HD and cost almost a much, for a few more MPG. The market is there for a compact PU that can still do some work and get 30+ MPG on the road. There are rumblings that Mahindra has reached some type of deal with International to assemble the truck in Alabama to avoid the 25% Chicken Tax. We'll see how that works out- or if it's just another pipe dream.
 
Don't think they'll offer a 5. 9 Cummins in a ½ ton PU. Too much engine.



A 5L engine would be the biggest I would want in a 1/2 ton pickup. However, a 4. 2L turbo diesel would be perfect in a vehicle about the size of a Toyota Tacoma, FJ or a highlander, just as example's. A Jeep Wrangler 4 door would be a good example of a family 4X4 application. 2012 Wrangler Arctic Edition | Extreme Weather Adventurer | Jeep

My interest is in a vehicle that will last 30 years and 400,000 miles. Course, that depends on multiple issues, including fuel availability, economy and political climate, without forgetting build quality. Greg
 
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