Toyota has announced its new Hilux pick-up truck will get a 148hp 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine with stop/start to replace the 2.5 and 3.0-litre units in the current model.
The engine generates maximum torque of 400 Nm between 1600 and 2000 rpm.
The manufacturer claimed the newly-developed 2.4-litre D-4D engine returns an average fuel consumption 39.8mpg and CO2 emissions of 187 g/km, an improvement in fuel efficiency of 9% over the outgoing model.
The eighth-generation Hilux, which is set to go on sale in the UK in the fourth quarter of the year, will be available with a six-speed manual gearbox in the 4×2 version or a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions in 4×4 derivatives.
Toyota will continue to offer the truck in Single, Extra and Double-cab bodystyles and the manufacturer has confirmed that for the UK market it will increase towing capacity from 2.8 to 3.5-tonnes to match the class leaders the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-max and Nissan Navara.
Payload capacities are expected to rise from the current maximum 1060 kg to a top limit of 1115kg in double-cab versions.
The Hilux was launched in 1968 and has racked up 16m global sales in the intervening years. It was the UK’s best-selling pick up last year with 8643 registrations with volume heavily weighted towards the fleet sector – 8126 units compared to just 517 retail sales.