Leaked photos of the new Toyota Hilux Champ have emerged, showing a near-production-ready version of the single-cab bakkie driving around in Thailand.
Posted to social media by Kurdistan Automotive Blog, the Hilux Champ shows a stark resemblance to the Toyota IMV 0 Concept showed off in December 2022, which stands for International Multi-Purpose Vehicle.
Several IMV 0-based vehicles, including three bakkies, a minivan, and an SUV, are actively being developed for release in over 180 markets, with its launch expected to take place in Southeast Asia in late November 2023.
South Africa may just be one of these markets the new Champ comes to as well, but if this happens, it will only be at a later date.
Toyota Hilux Champ Prototype. Source: Kurdistan Automotive Blog
Toyota South Africa (TSAM) earlier in 2023 all but confirmed that the Champ would be reaching local soil towards the end of 2025/beginning of 2026.
At a media briefing on its realigned product strategy in May, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at TSAM, Leon Theron, mentioned that in the next two to three years, the subsidiary plans to offer a “more affordable” bakkie in the local market.
Initially expected to be a compact model akin to the Nissan NP200, Theron doused the speculation by saying “Hopefully, we should have something in the next couple of years which is not a half-tonne, but will take the market by storm.”
He said the vehicle is going to provide the “same sort of space” as a Hilux – which the Champ does – but that it won’t be nearly as expensive.
There’s a possibility that it will also be built at TSAM’s production plant in Durban, however, this is still under deliberation with Toyota headquarters.
Toyota IMV 0 Concept
Everything we know about the Champ
Toyota described the IMV platform as an “efficient global production and supply system established under the policy of basing production in regions where demand exists, enabling Toyota to swiftly provide more attractive products at affordable prices to customers worldwide.”
Whereas the fully-fledged Hilux, which is also built on the IMV foundation, has somewhat morphed into more of a lifestyle vehicle than a workhorse in recent years, the Champ will be a Jack of all trades.
The concept shows the bakkie as an adventurous Extra Cab with rugged bumpers and wheels, winches, desert recovery boards, and a roof rack with a spare tyre.
There is also a camper-van derivative, one that has been converted into a coffee stand, and a commercially-aligned dropside version for hauling palettes and packages.
Going forward, Toyota will use the IMV platform to produce vehicles at a lower cost than the TNGA platform to which the next-generation Hilux and Fortuner are moving to, with the IMV-based models to be targeted at third-world markets where cost and utility are major selling points.
The dimensions of the Champ compared to the normal Hilux Single Cab are as follows:
Specification | Hilux Champ | Hilux |
---|---|---|
Length | 5,300mm | 5,270mm |
Width | 1,785mm | 1,800mm |
Height | 1,740mm | 1,690mm |
Wheelbase | 3,085mm | 3,085mm |
Unfortunately, no powertrain specifications or equipment features for the Champ have been provided thus far as it’s still firm within its prototype stage.
Keyword: Production-ready Toyota Hilux Champ spotted – A new bakkie for over 180 markets, including South Africa