Toyota recently launched the most famous limited edition Hilux of them all, the Dakar.
Built to celebrate Toyota’s continued success in the toughest off-road race of them all, the new variant features a new grille, which gives the front a more “squared-off” look. The front bumper is also new, as is the metallic grey skid plate.
In addition, the exterior sports a number of distinctive touches such as gloss-black treatment for the door handles and power-retractable side mirrors. The rear bumper is fashioned in grey, to tie in with the front design.
The interior has been blacked out completely to differentiate it from Raider models, which feature silver accents throughout the cabin.
The infotainment system has been upgraded to include navigation, whilst the standard Bluetooth, USB and CD/DVD playback functionality is retained.
Dakar models come with a unique instrument cluster, which uses white-faced gauges with orange needles and bespoke graphics. The LCD information display’s start-up graphics were also updated with the Dakar’s new exterior, which is a nice touch.
The Dakar is only available with the 2.8-litre GD-6 diesel (130kW/420Nm) and the 4.0-litre V6 petrol with 175kW and 376Nm on tap. Buyers have the option of a manual or automatic transmission. Both 4×4 and 4×2 variants are available in both Xtra and double cab configurations.
The Dakar limited edition is restricted to four exterior colours – including an all-new Inferno Orange Metallic. Buyers have a choice between Glacier White, Chromium Silver, Graphite Grey Metallic and Inferno Metallic exterior hues.
The Dakar model is around R17 000 more expensive than the equivalent Raider model, which isn’t bad considering the additional specification and upgraded looks.