Toyota‘s HiLux and Tacoma battle the Ford Ranger whereas the burly Tundra tackles the F-150, however the Japanese large currrently has no different to the Ford Maverick.

That might change per a report from Automotive Information, which says Toyota is weighing a Corolla-based ute.

The American outlet says this automobile stays beneath dialogue, and would possible be constructed alongside the Corolla within the firm’s plant in Mississippi.

Ought to it’s accepted, it reportedly received’t go on sale till a minimum of 2027.

It’s additionally unclear whether or not Toyota would export this mannequin from the US, because it does with the Kluger, or manufacture it in different crops for markets like ours.

Alternatively, it could possibly be a left-hand drive unique just like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz it could ostensibly rival.

Although Corolla-derived, it appears possible the ute would put on a unique nameplate, in contrast to the Corolla Cross SUV.

Toyota could have a couple of sub-HiLux ute within the works.

The corporate not too long ago previewed a modular idea known as the IMV 0, regarded as constructed on a model of the HiLux’s ladder-frame underpinnings and that includes comparable styling to the Compact Cruiser idea.

Toyota South Africa executives additionally not too long ago spoke of an upcoming mannequin that “received’t be a half-ton [ute]”.

“We imagine it would take the market by storm and are nonetheless doing a number of growth round it,” Leon Theron, Toyota South Africa vp for gross sales and advertising and marketing, informed South African media.

The upcoming ute will launch in 2025 or 2026, slotting in beneath the HiLux on value.

It will likely be aimed toward creating markets round Africa, amongst different locations – small, reasonably priced utes are common in Latin America, the place Toyota doesn’t presently supply something smaller or cheaper than the HiLux.

The sorts of mild business autos provided in markets like South Africa, Thailand and Latin America have usually differed through the years.

The US-built Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, for instance, aren’t bought in South Africa, whereas car-derived utes just like the smaller Latin American Chevrolet Montana and Fiat Strada have by no means been provided within the US.