The Toyota Hilux Gladiator Concept displayed at the National Agricultural Fieldays in June is creating such interest from customers that the distributor is considering putting a version into production.
Toyota is reviewing a limited edition Hilux Gladiator inspired by the Concept vehicle but says a commercially available model would be slightly more practical.
“We built it as a showcase vehicle for the Toyota display at the 2017 Mystery Creek Fieldays demonstrating a broad spectrum of customisation,” says Toyota New Zealand’s product general manager Spencer Morris.
“And we were thrilled at the response,” he says.
The Gladiator concept was built with help from Retro Vehicle Enhancements and included a suspension lift kit with offset 20-inch alloy wheels and tyres.
Complementing the suspension’s aggressive look was a bull bar and winch, sump guard, snorkel, bolt on flares, sports bar with custom mounts for the spare tyre and tools and LED lights on the roof rack and bull bar, offset with custom Gladiator graphics.
The cabin includes a full custom red leather interior, with carbon fibre styled trim and Gladiator branded mats.
The Gladiator concept had started out life as a standard 4WD Hilux SR5 model.
“Any commercially available Gladiator model will be slightly more practical,” says Morris. “Some of the parts of the concept would need a special low volume certification.”
He is confident the Gladiator will find favour with buyers, having already had sales success with a former accessorised Hilux Gladiator.
‘We have sold more than 100 units of the previous Gladiator version of the Hilux in the last 18 months,” says Morris.
