New Toyota Hilux Special Edition Is For Truck Buyers Who Want To Stand Out

New Toyota Hilux Special Edition Is For Truck Buyers Who Want To Stand Out

The Toyota Hilux Z Revo ROCCO Edition has an illuminated sports bar and white lettering on the tires.

It’s a new day, which means Toyota Japan has introduced yet another special edition of the Hilux, which is the rest of the world’s Toyota Tacoma.

Called the Z Revo ROCCO Edition, it’s based on the Z trim. It’s quite an odd decision, as the Z is the base trim within the Hilux range. The Z is equipped with a less powerful 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel, which produces 147 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. In contrast, the Hilux GR Sport is powered by a 2.8-liter turbocharged four-pot diesel, putting out 221 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque.

According to Toyota Japan, the additional equipment results in a more aggressive truck, which gives us a clue as to who it’s for. It’s for people who want to stand out in a sea of Hilux trucks without paying the equivalent of $40,000. (That’s what the GR Sport retails for in Japan.)

Toyota hasn’t added much equipment to the Z Revo ROCCO Edition, but the changes culminate in a truck that looks much better than a bare-bones Hilux.

It comes with 18-inch dark alloy wheels and tires with white letters, which is a nice throwback to the third-generation Hilux and ’70s muscle car culture. US-bound models were often sold with white letters on the tires, but only on top-spec models. Other exterior niceties include a model-specific grille, front and rear bumpers, and front and rear overfenders.

Those who really want to stand out will enjoy the illuminated sports bar. Toyota chucked in standard bed liner and tailgate lift assist to make it more practical. The latter allows you to lift the tailgate with a single finger.

It’s available in four colors, but the Oxide Bronze Metallic looks sublime. Other options include Attitude Black Mica, White Pearl Crystal, and Emotional Red.

The Z Revo ROCCO Edition retails for the equivalent of $33,500, a massive saving over the GR Sport. A standard Z costs roughly $30,000, and as you can see in the image block below, the cosmetic additions make a huge difference to the truck. We also included images of the GR Sport for reference.

It’s not coming to the USA, not only because of the infamous chicken tax. The eighth-generation Hilux has been on sale since 2015 and will be replaced in two to three years. The next-generation model will be based on the same platform as the beloved Tacoma, which the Japanese brand uses for everything else truck-related.

These special editions are a way of keeping people interested in the Hilux because it’s facing intense competition from the Ford Ranger (and its corporate cousin, the VW Amarok), the Nissan Navara (Frontier), and the all-new Mitsubishi Triton.