Toyota’s unibody half-ton bakkie built on the TNGA-C platform is slated to debut in the second half of 2027, according to Autoblog Argentina.
Speculation around the upcoming model started in 2022, and testing prototypes were first spied in June. The unnamed newcomer will enter a competitive segment that includes the Chevrolet Montana, Fiat Toro, Ford Maverick, Ram Rampage, Volkswagen Tukan, and the all-new Renault Niagara.
Manufacturing location plans have shifted during development. Autoblog Argentina reported that assembly will take place at the Zárate Plant in Argentina, which also produces the Hilux for Latin American markets. Earlier claims had pointed to the Sorocaba facility in São Paulo, Brazil, before that option was ruled out.
The unibody bakkie will utilize the same engine lineup as the Corolla Cross sold in Brazil and Argentina. According to Autoblog Argentina, the vehicle will feature a normally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engine and a 1.8-litre self-charging hybrid. The normally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol is not available in the South African market model. Front-wheel drive and a CVT will be standard across all derivatives, as a manual transmission is not offered.
South African market prospects remain uncertain despite ongoing internal investigations. Toyota South Africa Motors Vice-President of Sales and Marketing Leon Theron stated in 2023 that a half-ton bakkie was under investigation for local introduction, though he ruled out the Asian-market Hilux Champ and Hilux Rangga. “We believe it will take the market by storm and are still doing a lot of development around it,” Theron told IOL at the time.
Toyota South Africa Motors President and CEO Andrew Kirby reaffirmed the importance of the segment during the Land Cruiser Prado launch in Mozambique.
“Be it a half-ton or three-quarter ton, something that is a bit more accessible, there are clear indications that market is important and we would love participate in it,” Kirby told The Citizen. “[However], right now, we don’t have approval to manufacture it in South Africa and we don’t have immediate plans to launch it either. But it is not something we are discounting. We are investigating it and we will certainly look for every opportunity if it makes sense for us to introduce it,” he said.
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