Hilux in SC?

I was on the interstate yesterday and say a flatbed with 3 Hilux on it. I called every local dealer and one in Charleston to ask about them. no one had any answers. I would sell my f150 in a heartbeat for one of these. are they coming to the US or were these likely headed for export?
All three were Diesels and brand new.
Sorry, had to create a Google photos album to post the pics:
https://goo.gl/photos/9QiRiZjUsaTKjVev8

 

I hope so! I would buy one for sure. If toyota puts a diesel in the tacoma it will dominate the US market.

 

I googled a bit and there were people who said defense department uses them for training and such as they use them overseas. Apparently they can be armored and everything. I found it on the internet so it must be true.

 

Probably being shipped to Raqqa.

 

http://handi.tech/2017-toyota-hilux-usa-specs-price-release-date/

Maybe this is true?

 

i'd take a loss on my 3rd gen and snap up a diesel Hilux in a second. Every reputable source i've searched says that these are not slated for sale in the U.S. nor can you purchase one overseas and import it here.

 

There's some private companies that modify 70 series Land Cruisers and the Hilux here in the states. I was talking to a guy on a Overland FB page and his company in Nashville has a couple 2016 70 series Land Cruisers they're loading up with different mods for the defense department. It would be nice but Toyota says they have no plans to send Toyota diesels to the states because of the cost of complying with US emissions standards.

http://www.torquenews.com/1083/toyota-explains-why-there-no-2016-diesel-tacoma-coming

 

I work as a test engineer for a crash test lab and we have not seen any hilux in for government compliance testing (you must pass compliance testing in order to sell your car in the U.S) so Im assuming the hilux isnt coming here any time soon.

 

Do you think the people that have hilux's have a fit over a Tacoma? Like we have a fit over a hilux?

 

Just say your driving a modded out Tacoma in Australia, think they would give a shit? A modded out hilux in the states would
Get a lot of attention, from the guys who know what it is. Most people wouldn't have a clue though.

 

These must have been for military use. Lots of military in Carolinas and GA.

They can not be driven in US otherwise.

 

They can with enough money.

 

I have seen it done

 

Honestly money has nothing to do with it. They have to be 25 years old, no other way around it. Ask the Land Rover guys who had their rigs seized by homeland security last year. DHS seized over 40 Defenders in one day. I think they got them back but some dealer had been importing them and didn't have the correct paperwork. They were lucky that a Land Rover loving lawyer took their case for free and got their rigs back. He said if any of them had been newer than 25 years, DHS would have crushed them for scrap metal. I would give just about anything to have a new 70 series with the V8, twin turbo diesel.

 

You actually can import vehicles that are not made in the USA but it will cost more than most are willing to pay because you have to make the vehicle meet USA Safety and emitions for any vehilce under 25 years old which means replacing glass, mirrors, crush bumpers, headlights, and so on. So After you have spent about $30k you then must have it inspected by a local state law enforcement to clear it for use in the USA then a title is awarded. But the 25 year clause cuts all of the safety and emition bs out droping the price of importation to about $3-5k after everything is said and done. By the way the reason people get their vehicles confiscated is because they have not gone thur the process of meeting standards.