**** SPIED: 2016 TOYOTA HILUX PROTOTYPES ****

I've had interest in the next generation set for about 5 years now and live here in San Antonio (where my '14 was built and purchased last November). I've not heard too much around here yet, but 2015 has been pointed to as a launch date. It is related to the J180 Land Cruiser Prado/4Runner platforms due in 2016 (300-Series Land Cruiser due in 2016 as well). The J150 platform will likely not be used.

What I did find, was these new spy photos of what looks to be the next generation Hilux truck. Also, bear in mind these are PROTOTYPES, NOT test mules. Mules do not wear the production-body of a future model.

Next-Generation Toyota Hilux Spied Testing in Australia.


http://youtu.be/i937Gk0_3U8

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CURRENT MODEL DEVELOPMENT BY COMPARISON:
The current (2005) Tacoma was unveiled on February 2, 2004 at the Chicago Auto Show and went into production in September 2004 and sold from late October 2004 as a 2005 model. The 2005 Hilux was presented over a year after the Tacoma on March 2, 2005 and later launched in April 2005.

Prior to that, the first Tacoma mule was spied testing in February 2003 in this photo, which was months after the final design was frozen for production in 2002:

And many months later, a pre-production Double Cab in these photos:




Considering how the Hilux was launched 6 months after the Tacoma, this may be confirmation of the next generation Tacoma arriving next year in 2015. I suspect Tacoma prototypes must be somewhere, undetected or deep in secret testing in Japan/Michigan.

The 1st gen Tacoma being originally due in late 1994 for MY1995, was launched in February 1995 as a 1995.5 model.

This is what it looked like in 1991 (Kevin Hunter):

Then the final product reached in late 1992 (Kevin Hunter):


All this came after the last U.S. Pickup generation launched in late 1988. So pretty much 5 years of development during 1989-1994.

As we all know:
1994 PP, January 1995 SOP


A facelift arrived in October 1996 for '97 4X2s.

Facelift in July of 1997 for '98 4X4s and std. passenger airbag.




A substantial facelift unveiled at CAS(Chicago) on February 10, 2000 and launched in October 2000 for 2001 model year, added the Double Cab and S-Runner.



In late 2002, 2003 models received some changes.
End of production in August 2004.

The current generation Tacoma went into development in 1999, nearly midway through development of the 4th gen. 4Runner and 120-Series Prado (launched in 2002). The first evidence of the 2G Tacoma (as posted above) was in early 2003.

Noticeable changes we've had so far are:
(September 2004 SOP)


A minor update in fall 2006 for MY'07 regarding interior changes.
Refresh in fall 2008 for MY2009.


Grille update in August 2010 for MY11.

Internal Toyota Motor Corporation Photo of 2012 Tacoma prototype dated September 2010:

Major facelift in October 2011 for MY2012.
Limited added in late 2012.
Minor updates in late 2013 for MY2014.
TRD Pro for MY2015.

I can see that a similar pattern happens here with the current model. The last major update to Gen 1, lasted from October 2000 through early October 2004. Midway through that Toyota finalized design work in 2002, with mostly 2003-04 spent on final development. The present Tacoma run will last from (October 2004-)October 2011 through around October 2015. Midway through that, design work should've been finished recently. I expect that a 2015 reveal may occur for a 2016 Tacoma.

 

Interesting read!

 

Cool

 

I hope Toyota doesn't follow the same design direction with the next-gen Taco. Higher beltline and smaller windows hinder visibility.

 

LOL says 2005 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab with 4Runner badge

And what's MY? FY = Fiscal year; MY = Mayan year?

 

Model year

 

I use MY as an abbreviation of model year, as to not confuse production/launch year with a model year such as "In 2004 for MY2005..."

Thanks. Trying to connect all the dots over the past 25+ years, to understand where development lies at the moment. Development seems to always start right between a refresh (1997, 2008) and a major facelift(2000, 2011).

That's not it, but the Chinese Foton Tunland pickup. They plagiarize Toyota designs, BIG time.

 

Probably preRunner.

 

Probably the most detailed breakdown and most information regarding design and generation changes of the Tacoma I've seen. Nice job

 

Toyota must be testing the third gen Tacoma somewhere I mean the second gen is reaching the end of its life and it needs a refresh on the interior and power train badly. It really needs new rims for the trd packages.

 

great job putting the summary together for everyone. a lot of work, but I love it.
NOW, I hope Toyota gets us an official memo about what to expect.

when the mules are running around, does that normally mean that the full production models are already finalized ? I hope so. I cant wait !!

 

Yes and no, but in Toyota's case, very much so. Usually test mules, like in the 2003 photo, are built as soon as a final body design is frozen with no further changes. Prototypes on the other hand, take months to be handbuilt and then test from there.

For a major redesign, that can take 6-18 months from a final design freeze, which for such a large vehicle, will be about 20/24/30 months before production begins. The current model (out in late 2004) reached design finalization in 2002 and was on legal file by December 2002.

We saw mules by February of '03, while Hino in Japan tested it in secret during 2003 until early 2004 when pre-production builds went stateside.

Most of these design selections and final approvals are timed when a current generation facelift is introduced, in the form of placeholder.

The vehicles above are full-fledged, early prototypes and not a mule combination of old+new. They are the real 2016 Hilux and will definitely be out next year (Toyota will never spend more than 18 months on such public testing).

 

Yep, they are extremely secretive. Knowing Toyota, they always depend on their secret test tracks in Hokkaido and Aichi, Japan. The current gen was tested there during 2002-2003, while only chopped 4Runner mules were spotted stateside in '03.

At times they will only provide 1 single prototype to US/Canada for mid-stage testing, with only evaluation and pilot production builds going out during the 9-12 month period before sales launch.

 

thanks OP.
yea, I hope two things. that this first spy shot is really just US being late and maybe its been running around for 6months or longer and we didn't know -- and also hope they hurry it up in preparation for what Nissan or GM has already announced. encouraging to say the least. I wish Honda had theirs coming out soon just to see how they will respond to all these great choices coming up. exciting times .

 

Great write up! I hope the overall size of the Tacoma does not get larger....but if history proves anything with most automotive manufacturers... It will grow....

 

+1 for Australia. Running their prototypes already equiped with plate bumpers.

 

There are 2 big ranches in Texas where Toyota tests the trucks too. I have a brother-in-law in Midland, TX and he knows of one place where the trucks are tested long before we see them.

 

I hope there is news soon. Holding onto my 2002 until I see what the next-gen Taco will be like. I imagine many others are holding out for a redesign too.

 

same here. I need a truck real soon and would buy this tomorrow if it was here but I cant wait forever. were all waiting on some news already from management.