The tiny vehicles Toyota unveiled final yr in Thailand are again within the type of the most recent compact work car from the Japanese auto large, which it calls the Toyota Rangga Idea. Toyota debuted the Rannga at this yr’s Gaikindo Indonesia Worldwide Auto Present (GIIAS 2023) the place it showcased a couple of potentialities for the IMV-0 platform, upon which the Rangga idea is constructed.

Toyota had already hinted on the arrival of a brand new work truck to be launched in Southeast Asia, which might presumably characteristic a spread of drivetrains, together with a hybrid configuration and an EV choice. However these partially and fully-electric vehicles will come later down the road; when the Rangga makes it to manufacturing, it’ll possible be powered by a turbodiesel or a gas-burning engine, in keeping with Prime Gear.

For now, Toyota isn’t utilizing the Rangga’s potential EV drivetrain as a promoting level, however quite its flexibility. Toyota says the truck will likely be totally customizable to suit the wants of various companies and fleets. The modularity of the Rangga, nevertheless, isn’t solely suited to business autos, and Toyota has launched a contest in Indonesia to gather the very best concepts for personalization from the general public.

The theme of the competition is “Public Service x Enterprise x Way of life,” that means that Toyota sees the promise of a small truck past its business purposes. Toyota is taking submissions for potential modifications to the Rangga idea, accessible in a chassis cab. And it’s rattling good to see that single cab and chassis cab vehicles nonetheless have a spot on this planet, regardless of how far the ASEAN market is from the U.S.

Whereas there isn’t but a transparent date for the manufacturing mannequin’s launch, it’s more likely to be throughout the subsequent yr, as Toyota appears dedicated to the IMV-0 platform. The IMV-0 might even be a alternative for business fashions primarily based on the Hilux in sure markets — Indonesia presumably being amongst them.

The present Hilux has been getting somewhat lengthy within the tooth, and regardless of the platform being a candidate for electrification, it is smart that Toyota could also be shifting on to a totally new platform constructed with EV drivetrains in thoughts. However EV or no, the Ranggan idea nonetheless appears like a correct little work truck, the type that’s not often seen within the U.S. anymore. It additionally makes for a sick little off-roader and drift truck, nevertheless, as a few of Toyota’s contest renderings present.