A latest report from Automotive Information urged a US-built ute primarily based on the Toyota Corolla may emerge as quickly as 2027.
Toyota Motor North America common supervisor David Christ, nevertheless, has subsequently advised the US publication the corporate isn’t planning such a car.
“We don’t have something deliberate,” Mr Christ advised Automotive Information.
“We’re not saying something to the sellers. I gained’t even say ‘but’ as a result of that will recommend it’s coming. However actually, it’s one thing we’ve checked out.”
A ute associated to the Corolla would give Toyota a extra direct rival for the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, that are associated to the Ford Escape and Hyundai Tucson, respectively.
Mr Christ acknowledged sellers have been calling for a smaller, extra environment friendly ute for a while, to fit beneath the Tacoma – the North American counterpart to the HiLux.
Automotive Information had beforehand reported the car was “underneath dialogue” and hadn’t but been accredited, however would possible enter manufacturing alongside the Corolla on the firm’s Mississippi plant.
Whether or not Toyota would export such a car from the US, because it does with the Kluger, is unclear.
Whereas a Corolla-derived ute hasn’t been confirmed, Toyota has revealed a brand new ute for creating markets.
Referred to as the Rangga, the single-cab ute idea was revealed ultimately month’s Gaikindo motor present in Indonesia and is known to preview a manufacturing car that can supply petrol, turbo-diesel, hybrid and electrical powertrains.
The Rangga seems to be a conventional body-on-frame ute, and it shares design cues with the Compact Cruiser idea.
An organization government in South Africa not too long ago confirmed Toyota was engaged on a brand new ute that will undercut the HiLux on worth.
The upcoming ute will launch in 2025 or 2026, and shall be aimed toward creating markets round Africa, amongst different locations – small, inexpensive utes are fashionable in Latin America, the place Toyota doesn’t at the moment supply something smaller or cheaper than the HiLux.
The Latin American ute market is sort of completely different to ours, or Southeast Asia’s, with a variety of car-derived utes just like the Ram Rampage and Chevrolet Montana – conceptually extra just like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz than one thing just like the Toyota Rangga idea.