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By
EWAN KENNEDY
28 July 2008
Had
a TRD HiLux ute on test all last week. For the first 10 minutes I
hated it, because of the shrieking engine, firm suspension,
squealing tyres and the high driving position. Then something
clicked in my brain and for the remaining 167 hours and 50 minutes
I loved this hot Toyota – because of the shrieking engine, firm
suspension, squealing tyres and the high driving position!
For
this is a vehicle unlike any other on the Australian market.
Whereas hot utes from HSV and FPV are no longer utes, rather they
are full-on sports machines (albeit with very large boots), the
TRD HiLux is still a genuine working ute. A ute with a dinkum 4WD
system that includes low range for when conditions get really
tough.
To
expand on my dislikes and likes: The shrieking engine is due to it
being supercharged, the all-alloy, twin-cam 4.0-litre V6 produces
225 kW thanks to a rather vocal Eaton M9 supercharger.
That’s
300 horsepower in muscle-ute speak, which is plenty, but the
torque results are by far this engine’s most impressive feature;
peak torque of 453 Nm is maintained across a wide band from 2800
rpm to 3400 rpm. This not only gives exceptional pulling power,
but also aids economy. Fuel consumption of 12.9 litres per 100
kilometres on the official cycle is pretty good for a vehicle in
this class.
The
big advantage of a supercharger compared with a turbocharger is
that it gives virtually instantaneous response to throttle
movements. We certainly loved the way the TRD picked up the moment
it was asked to perform something like a safe overtaking manoeuvre.
The
firm suspension isn’t too bad for a sports ute, but this HiLux
is inclined to pitch at times and that can be tiring on long trips
on rough roads. Then again, the typical owner is prepared to put
up with things like this. Though the passengers may find it rather
wearing.
Thanks
to the use of Bilstein shock absorbers and a lot of development
work on the rear springs, body roll at higher cornering speeds is
flatter than you might expect, giving it a fair degree of
precision in its handling. The steering is precise and smooth for
a working ute and most enjoyable to sit behind.
Larger
brakes and standard anti-lock braking gave impressive stopping
results on our driving test and illustrate the whole vehicle
philosophy behind the TRD (Toyota Racing Development) organisation.
Then again it’s been a long time since we drove a
high-performance vehicle that had drum brakes at the rear.
Theoretically these could overheat if asked to work long and hard
on big downhill stretches, though we never struck any troubles
with them.
Tyre
squeal on hard acceleration exists because this working ute
hasn’t been dumbed down by electronics. It’s up to the driver
to control the torque the engine sends to the wheels. Which makes
it a real pleasure for those who like to make their own decisions.
Then again, this is not a vehicle for the inexperienced and/or
immature driver.
Though
it carries Toyota badges, the TRD HiLux is chiefly an Australian
designed and built vehicle. Not just by Toyota, but by other local
companies, including Harrop Engineering, and Orbital Engine Co.
Final assembly is done by performance-car specialist Prodrive in a
factory close to Toyota's Altona plant in Melbourne.
Ours
was the relatively plain standard model, tagged the ‘`4000 S’,
but even then it weighed in at a pretty substantial $59,990. Pay
another $5000 and you get the ‘4000 SL’ with leather seats, a
six-disc CD changer and carpet on the floor.
Both
variants come only with the HiLux dual-cab body. Which makes sense
as these are as much social vehicles as full-on working machines.
This
raw-edged Toyota ute won’t appeal to everyone, but those who
like a rugged vehicle that demands good driving will love every
minute they spend behind the wheel.
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Marque Publishing Company
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