These five builds show a different side to truck culture as experienced by fans of the Hilux in Bangkok.
Trucks are undeniably big in the US, but the love for the raised three-box isn't limited to our country. At the 2023 Bangkok Auto Salon, a slew of modified Toyota Hiluxes – the closest thing the rest of the world gets to the Toyota Tacoma – graced the car show, representing the other side of the truck craze in Southeast Asia. You might think these trucks were from various aftermarket tuning companies trying to appeal to eventgoers, but it was actually Toyota that officially brought out the vehicles.
Toyota Motor Thailand showcased four Hilux mods: Hilux Revo 54th, Hilux Revo High Performance Style, Hilux Revo Twin Turbo, Hilux Revo Dragster, and Revo Z Runner. All of these came with distinctive styling that easily set each apart, with some hosting a few performance tweaks.
Perhaps the most aggressive build at the Toyota booth was the Revo 54th (White), based on a Toyota Hilux Revo Double Cab Prerunner 4×2 2.4 AT.
The Hilux Revo 54th came with a widebody kit, a hood scoop, 20-inch wheels, Profender front and rear shock absorbers, and raised TJM springs.
The Hilux Revo High Performance Style was another build to showcase an aggressive appeal. Coming with a red base color with black accents, this build has 20-inch Lenso wheels wrapped in Yokohama tires, a chunky body kit, a suspension kit, and Profender front and rear shock absorbers. Arto also supplied the pickup's ECU box and sports exhaust.
As opposed to these two pickup trucks, the Hilux Revo Twin Turbo, Hilux Revo Dragster, and Hilux Revo Z Runner are less about climbing over stuff and feature low-slung ride heights. Both the Hilux Revo Twin Turbo (Gray) and Hilux Revo Z Runner (White) get a cleaner-looking exterior than the kitted Hilux Revo Dragster.
The Hilux Revo Dragster has performance upgrades, enabling the 2.4-liter 2GD-FTV turbodiesel to squeeze out as much as 500 horsepower. This is made possible with a modified cylinder head, ATP intercooler, BRD headers and exhaust pipe set, ATP crank, and ATP valve set, among others.
Stateside, consumers can soon get their hands on the next-gen Tacoma, which promises class-leading 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque via the i-Force Max Hybrid powertrain. These Thai Hilux builds might inspire those who'd want to build their Taco with a slightly familial connection, but with a variety of trims, including the new Trailhunter overlander, we think Toyota has you pretty well covered from the factory.
Of note, the Hilux will also join the brand's hybrid pool as it will come with a 48-volt mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) setup for global markets.
Keyword: Toyota Reveals 5 Wild One-Off Hilux Builds