The tiny vehicles Toyota unveiled final 12 months in Thailand are again within the type of the newest compact work automobile from the Japanese auto big, which it calls the Toyota Rangga Concept. Toyota debuted the Rannga at this 12 months’s Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS 2023) the place it showcased a couple of prospects 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 may probably function a spread of drivetrains, together with a hybrid configuration and an EV possibility. But these partially and fully-electric vehicles will come later down the road; when the Rangga makes it to manufacturing, it’ll doubtless be powered by a turbodiesel or a gas-burning engine, in keeping with Top 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 might be totally customizable to suit the wants of various companies and fleets. The modularity of the Rangga, nevertheless, isn’t solely fitted to industrial autos, and Toyota has launched a contest in Indonesia to gather one of the best concepts for personalization from the general public.
The theme of the competition is “Public Service x Business x Lifestyle,” which means that Toyota sees the promise of a small truck past its industrial purposes. Toyota is taking submissions for potential modifications to the Rangga idea, obtainable in a chassis cab. And it’s rattling good to see that single cab and chassis cab vehicles nonetheless have a spot on the earth, irrespective of how far the ASEAN market is from the U.S.
While there isn’t but a transparent date for the manufacturing mannequin’s launch, it’s more likely to be inside the subsequent 12 months, as Toyota appears dedicated to the IMV-0 platform. The IMV-0 may even be a substitute for industrial fashions based mostly on the Hilux in sure markets — Indonesia probably 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 sensible that Toyota could also be shifting on to a totally new platform constructed with EV drivetrains in thoughts. But EV or no, the Ranggan idea nonetheless seems to be like a correct little work truck, the sort 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.
Source: jalopnik.com