Dr. Jurachart Jongusuk, the chief engineer for Toyota’s IMV platform, described the truck to Road & Track as “70 percent finished,” with the customer completing the final 30 percent. The Champ, the production version of the IMV 0 concept, is a blank canvas for its customers. Toyota teased the possibilities in October at the Japan Mobility Show with a slew of concepts that included an ambulance, a food truck, a vending machine, and other creative uses.
The automaker also helped reduce costs by applying its rigorous Toyota Production System to the truck's supply chain. Engineers visited suppliers and shared lessons learned to improve the production process and reduce costs, even going so far as to paint the rear leaf spring shackles in different colors to save money.
Toyota Hilux Champ
The rear deck of the truck has bolt holes so that customers can attach whatever they want. Toyota Motor Thailand will also direct owners to more than 100 accessory manufacturers who can customize the Hilux Champ. It's designed more like a commercial chassis cab pickup than a passenger vehicle. It's designed to work.
Toyota Hilux Champ
The rear-wheel drive Hilux Champ is available in short and long wheelbase versions. Customers can choose from three engines: the 2.0- or 2.7-liter gasoline options or the 2.4-liter diesel. It's available in eight grades with either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
The Toyota Hilux Champ comes with a flat deck when not equipped, with prices ranging from 459,000 to 577,000 baht ($13,200 to $16,600 at today's exchange rate).
Source: Road & Track
