All-new Toyota Tamaraw spotted in PH, launch soon?

It looks like we’re only several months away from the big reveal of the all-new Toyota Tamaraw. While the automaker has already given us a glimpse of what to expect after showing the IMV-0 concept last year, it seems Toyota Motor Philippines is already busy testing a camouflaged prototype on Philippine roads.

That’s right, the automaker was recently spotted testing what appears to be the next-generation Toyota Tamaraw. Also called the Hilux Champ when it was revealed in Thailand last year, the workhorse will be available in various body styles including a pickup truck, a closed van, an aluminum van, and more.

Despite the company’s best efforts to camouflage the vehicle, it’s quite clear that this is the all-new Tamaraw. It has a distinct front fascia that features unique headlights, horizontal LED daytime running lights, and a large grille. In addition, the overall shape and design are very reminiscent of the IMV-0 concept’s looks.

The vehicles that were recently spotted came in the form of a dropside pickup truck and an aluminum box van. These body styles highlight the vehicle’s versatility and its various configurations that will be available once it’s officially revealed.

No powertrain details are available as of now. However, the PH-spec Tamaraw will likely get a 2.4-liter turbo-diesel 2GD-FTV that can be mated to either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. The engine puts out 150 PS along with 343 Nm of torque when paired with a manual. However, when connected to an automatic gearbox, the torque rating goes up to 400 Nm.

There’s no word yet when TMP will officially hold the big reveal of the all-new Tamaraw. According to a well-placed source, however, it could be as early as Q1 2024. But since it’s already March, perhaps Toyota has decided to move its launch to Q2 since April will mark the start of the second quarter 2024.

With Toyota investing PHP 4.4 billion for the local production of the next-generation Tamaraw, the automaker is banking heavily on the utilitarian workhorse to be popular amongst Filipino customers.