► Toyota Hilux Tonka Concept
► One-off made by Toyota Oz
► Pick-up made to look like a toy
Toyota Australia has made a one-off Hilux Tonka Concept – creating an unusual pick-up made to look like a toy car.
It’s a top-of-the-range roadgoing Hilux SR5 double-cab with a regular 2.8-litre turbodiesel (no battery electric toy power here) but given a beefy makeover.
What makes the Hilux a Tonka?
It’s beefed up significantly, just like the kids toys from whence its inspiration came. Changes include huge 35-inch off-roader tyres, accommodated by a high-riding 150mm lift in ride height, to give that all-important scrambler look.
And the bodywork is substantially reworked with carbonfibre bonnet, dramatic air scoops, lighting and bull bars, and a smattering of tough sump guard and tubular side rails to bash any suspecting children’s toys outta the way.
Why the Toyota-Tonka tie-up?
Toyota has a bit of a thing for collaborating with toy manufacturers right now: earlier in spring 2017, it teamed up with Tamiya to make a battery of r/c toy cars tow a real Hilux in a warehouse.
The Australian importer approached Tonka, as the Hilux became the country’s bestselling vehicle in 2016. More than 920,000 have found homes Down Under.
See the Tamiyas towing a Toyota Hilux here