Gazoo goodness: GR Sport versions of Toyota Hilux, Fortuner previewed at Vios Cup

MANILA: Well, the one-make race series isn't called the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Vios Cup for nothing.

Aside from being Toyota Motor Philippines' (TMP)'s platform for showing off the Vios motorsports mettle, the event has also allowed TMP to preview the latest creations from Gazoo Racing — the Japanese carmaker's performance arm. In the first leg of the TGR Vios Cup, the GR Yaris and GR Supra strutted their sporty stuff. 

In the recently concluded second leg of the series, TMP previewed the upcoming Hilux GR Sport and Fortuner GR Sport. While not positioned to be high-performance machines, the two new models are outfitted with goodies that pay tribute to the GR sub-brand.  

Slated to be launched in October 23, the Hilux and Fortuner GR Sport will represent the sportiest and the range-toppers of the carmaker's pickup and midsize SUV range, respectively. The two models are projected to cost between P2 million to P2.5 million. The vehicles enter the market after their debut in Thailand. 

The Hilux and Fortuner GR Sport feature monotube rear shock absorbers. According to Toyota Thailand, monotube shocks aim to enhance the pickup and SUV's off-road abilities. 

Exterior-wise, the Hilux GR Sport is made, well, sportier with a larger grille, wheel arch details, a sports bar, and six-spoke alloy wheels. These accessories are finished in black in order to contrast the Emotional Red paint job and red brake calipers. The Hilux GR Sport displayed at the Vios Cup seems to do away with  the red and black side decals, as shown by its counterpart in the Toyota Thailand website. 

As for the Fortuner GR Sport, its exterior paint is presented in a two-tone affair, with the upper half of the vehicle's body painted in black. The Fortuner GR Sport's rear diffuser, grille, fog light housings, and wheels come in the dark shade, too. 

The Hilux and Fortuner GR Sport both wear GR emblems on the outside, and in their interiors that sport a combination of suede and leather. GR logos on the trucks' instrument cluster remind drivers that they're inside the sportiest versions, a message that's also projected by sports pedals. 

Under the hood, the GR Sport trucks pack the standard 2.8-liter diesel engine that generates 200hp and 500Nm of torque. The engine is paired to a six-speed automatic, which manages the power and torque as they are sent to all four wheels. 

Photos from Toyota Thailand, Dylan Afuang, and Roy Robles

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