Since Toyota Philippines brought in the facelifted Hilux back in 2020, many said that its new 2.8-liter diesel mill was already enough to compete against the Ford Ranger Raptor’s 2.0-liter biturbo diesel. Sure, the said Toyota engine can make 201 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque, but do note that the Toyota Hilux Conquest for the most part still looked like a ‘normal’ pickup truck.
That's a radical-looking Hilux
In Thailand however, an off-roading aftermarket company called Rad has set out to change that. Specifically, they have cooked up a monstrous-looking Hilux that might be able to hold a candle to the off-road capability and macho appeal of the Ford Ranger Raptor.
Based on the top-of-the-line Thai-spec Hilux Revo, Rad outfitted the Hilux with an Old Man Emu kit for added ride height and suspension travel. It also gave the truck a very aggressive set of mud-terrain tires, plus the wheels themselves have a considerable amount of positive offset to boot.
It's looks very aggressive from any angle
To further enhance the looks of this bonkers Hilux, Rad also kitted it out with massive overfenders. The front end was also given a very beefy-looking steel bumper with an integrated winch, and it’s also equipped with additional lighting mounted on the roof. The sides were then equipped with electronically actuated side steps, while the rear also received a beefy sports bar.
As for its powertrain though, it seems that Rad is of the opinion that the stock 2.8-liter 1GD-FTV inline-4 turbodiesel is already enough. We can be sure though that a Hilux with these aftermarket parts can rip through off-road terrain like butter. It’s a sure head-turner, too.
From the side, one can note that they didn't go overboard with the tire size
So, is the Philippines getting a Hilux like this in the future? Well, we previously reported that the Toyota Hilux Gazoo Racing version is indeed coming to the Philippines. So is it something like the Ranger Raptor? Well, not quite, if we based it on the ones released in Thailand.
To be specific, the GR Sport Hilux Hi-floor that was already launched in the Land of Smiles is more of an appearance package. In turn, the “Lo-Floor” version took the Hilux into a whole new direction, with a somewhat low-rider approach.
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