√Further details of Toyota HiLux’s smaller affordable sibling emerge, due by 2026

Information about a new small ute from Toyota – which would sit below the HiLux in size and price – is being released in piecemeal, but it’s not clear at this stage whether the model is being developed for Australia.

More details of a forthcoming small ute from Toyota have emerged, with indications the sub-HiLux model could eventually be manufactured in South Africa.

Toyota is keeping its cards close to its chest, but the new ute – which would be smaller than the HiLux, and may revive the Stout badge from the 1960s and 70s – has reportedly been confirmed for release in 2025 or 2026.

A report from South Africa’s IOL quotes Toyota South Africa senior vice president for sales and marketing Leon Theron on the subject, who spoke recently at a media event.

“It won’t be a half-ton bakkie [the South African term for utes],” the executive said, suggesting the ute will have a greater load capacity than some smaller car-based ‘half-ton’ utes available in some markets such as Latin America.

“We believe it will take the market by storm and are still doing a lot of development around it.”

The report suggests the vehicle could be manufactured by Toyota’s South African division at its Prospecton Plant in Durban, on the country’s east coast.

However, with the ute reportedly aimed at Africa and emerging markets, it’s not clear at this stage whether the model will be developed for, and made available to Australia.

MORE: 2025 Toyota Stout: Old badge could be revived for new ute

“[The ute is] something that’s in the same space but more affordable than the HiLux that we’re looking at releasing around 2025/26,” said Glenn Crompton, Toyota South Africa’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications, at the same event.

Toyota trademarked the Stout name in Argentina late last year, and the model could go head-to-head with popular car-based compact utes in the region.

As predicted in illustrations published by Drive in October 2022 (top), Toyota unveiled a ute concept in December, using design inspiration from the Compact Cruiser EV Concept – which may itself eventually come to market as the LiteCruiser or Yaris Cruiser.

Named the IMV 0 Concept – translating to Innovating International Multi-Purpose Vehicle – the concept supposedly allows the owner to swap the body between a ute, commercial van, or personal wagon, while the cabin from the front doors forward remains in place.

“I decided to challenge our engineering and design teams to create a brand new IMV pick-up truck for Thailand, something truly affordable and truly innovative. Internally we call it the IMV 0 Concept,” former Toyota CEO – now company chairman – Akio Toyoda said of the concept.

MORE: 2024 Toyota Yaris Cruiser: Electric off-roader could join Yaris line-up

“Its official launch is actually over a year away, but I wanted all of you to be the first to see it,” Mr Toyoda said at its unveiling in December 2023 in Thailand – the same country that manufactures HiLux utes for Australia.

“I truly believe this is a product that can enhance the quality of life for many people and provide new economic opportunities.”

IMV is the name used for the architecture underpinning the Toyota HiLux ute and Fortuner 4WD, with IMV vehicles being manufactured in South Africa, Argentina, Indonesia, and Thailand – with exports to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania regions.

While the Toyota Compact Cruiser EV concept was electric, it’s not clear what powers the IMV 0 Concept – or what will eventually power the smaller HiLux sibling for Africa.

Would you like to see Toyota’s small ute come to Australia? Let us know in the comments section below.

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