The pieces of the Toyota GR Hilux puzzle are slowing coming together, with the latest report suggesting the long-rumoured high-performance variant will debut a new V6 turbodiesel engine only in 2023.

According to CarsGuide.com.au, the Japanese firm will base the first full-fat Gazoo Racing version of the Hilux (not to be confused with the GR Sport derivative) on the upcoming ninth-generation version of the popular bakkie. That suggests there will be no proper “go-faster” version of the current, recently refreshed model.

The report claims power will come from Toyota’s “all-new” 3,3-litre V6 turbodiesel engine, which is expected to have its first use in the upcoming Land Cruiser 300.

While peak outputs have yet to be confirmed, the burly oil-burner is expected to make more than 195 kW and 650 N.m in Land Cruiser guise. Such figures would be enough to eclipse those of the outgoing Volkswagen Amarok V6, although by 2023 the German bakkie would have switched to next-gen Ford Ranger underpinnings (with an R variant reportedly on the cards).

The Australian publication speculates the GR Hilux will furthermore feature a variety of uprated off-road goodies, such as Fox shocks and all-terrain rubber.

At the start of 2020, Toyota applied to trademark the “GR Hilux” nameplate in Australia, although the Japanese firm insisted it had “no plans” to offer a high-performance version of the bakkie just yet.

Original article from Car