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JUMP AHEAD
- Ford F-150 (facelift)
- GWM Cannon Shanhai
- Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster
- Isuzu D-Max facelift
- JAC T9
- Jeep Gladiator (facelift)
- Mitsubishi Triton
- Toyota HiLux – 'Hybrid' 48V
- Toyota Tundra
Ford F-150 facelift – Late 2024
The F-150 that went on sale here in September 2023 in two trim levels – the XLT and flagship Lariat – has already been given an update in the US.
The world’s best-selling ute was updated with styling tweaks including a new grille, bumpers plus LED headlights and taillights, as well as a ‘Pro Access’ split tailgate as on option on the Lariat.
Not yet confirmed for Australia, the option provides a smaller central tailgate opening – almost two-thirds its width – that is hinged to swing open at 37, 70 and 100 degrees.
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The Australian line-up is expected to remain the two trim levels – both available in short wheelbase and long wheelbase guise – with the Pro Access expected to be offered.
The electric F-150 Lightning is also still on the cards for Australia, having been spotted testing in local roads after the company registered the Lightning trademark locally.
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GWM Cannon Shanhai – Timing TBC
The Cannon Shanhai is bigger than the GWM Ute that arrived in Australia in 2020 and brings a more luxurious, advanced pick-up using the same P71 ladder-on-frame underpinnings as the GWM Tank 300.
Australian buyers will receive the facelift that the Cannon was given in early 2023, which is sold overseas with a mild hybrid 260kW/500Nm petrol V6 – a salivating Ranger Raptor alternative – and 135kW/480Nm 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, both using a nine-speed automatic.
A Borg Warner four-wheel drive system, locks on both axles and a 3300kg towing rating are features of the China-spec Cannon Shanhai.
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There may be a plug-in hybrid in the line-up, with a 258kW/615Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder announced for the China market.
An electric version was shown at the 2020 Beijing show promised 400-500km range as a rival to the only electric ute currently on sale, the LDV eT60.
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Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster – timing TBC
The pick-up version of the rugged Ineos Grenadier will add a second body style to the British car maker’s showroom.
The Quartermaster stretches the Grenadier ladder-on-frame chassis wheelbase 305mm to 3227mm – for a total 5400mm length – with a tray able to fit a 1200mm by 800mm European pallet.
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It has the same powertrain choices of 3.0-litre BMW petrol or 3.0-litre turbo-diesel turbo-charged inline sixes, offered solely with an eight-speed ZF automatic.
Payloads are 823kg for the diesel and 907kg for the petrol.
The Quartermaster keeps the off-road gear, including heavy duty solid beam axles, two-speed transfer case and up to three locking differentials.
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Isuzu D-Max facelift – Q1
The D-Max is the oldest of the current generation of dual-cab utes, so a welcome facelift brings an updated design and additional features.
The core vehicle remains – with no updates to its turbo diesel powertrains – but there’s a redesigned nose with a revised grille and headlights, new wheel designs and fresh ‘triple armour’ LED tail lights up back.
The cabin brings more car-like features taken from the MU-X, including a updated centre screen, USB-C charge ports as well as a larger instrument cluster and paddle shifters.
There’s also a new ‘rough terrain mode’, while Isuzu Australia says that the front camera module as a ‘wider and more accurate view’.
JAC T9 – TBC
The affordability faction of the popular dual-cab ute segment is set to expand with Chinese newcomer, the JAC T9, set to battle the GWM Ute, LDV T60 and SsangYong Musso.
BLK Auto began importing JAC (Jianghuai Automobile Co) trucks in 2023 and will bring the Toyota Hilux-sized T9 to Australia in 2024 priced from an estimated $40,000.
The double-cab ute will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine making 125kW/410Nm and ZF eight-speed automatic, with a part-time four-wheel-drive, rear diff lock and 3500kg towing.
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An electric version is planned for later in 2024, which in overseas guise runs a 77kWH battery pack and 150kW/290Nm electric motor with a claimed 300km range.
Loaded with safety gear and tech – including the mandatory Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility – the company said the T9 would bring a five-star ANCAP rating at the 2022 announcement, but the criteria has become more stringent since.
Timing for the launch has yet to be confirmed, however.
Jeep Gladiator facelift – late 2024
The V6 Gladiator takes the same revised front-grille and headlight treatment debuted on the Jeep Wrangler, accompanied by new wheel designs and detail changes such as an in-windscreen antenna.
The cabin is where the biggest changes have been made, with a revised dash hosting a central screen, up from 8.4 to 12.3-inches and running updated Uconnect 5 software including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Local spec is yet to be confirmed, but overseas curtain airbags, Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Collision Warning joined the party, with the 3.6-litre V6 eight-speed automatic combo remaining at 209kW/347Nm.
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Mitsubishi Triton – Q1
The 2024 Mitsubishi Triton – due for release in February – is larger and more capable with greater punch, towing capability and safety tech.
A fresh new exterior design and more car-like interior sits on a stiffer ladder frame chassis – Mitsubishi says the wider body itself is lighter – with a longer, lower load-height tray thanks to a wheelbase increased to 3130mm.
Mitsubishi will focus on the more profitable high-end models across four variants in two body styles, which sees the starting price rise a significant $13k for the entry-level XXX, with the range-topping GSR at $64k.
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Safety gear includes AEB, cyclist detection and a centre airbag.
Power from the carryover 2.4-litre 4N16 twin-turbo diesel four-cylinder is up now 150kW, up 17kW, with 40Nm more torque – now 470Nm on tap from 1500rpm.
That helps increase Triton’s tow-rating by 400kg to 3500kg, while fuel economy is also down by almost a litre per 100km to 7.7L/100km for 4x4 versions using the six-speed automatic, thanks to tech such as electric steering.
Toyota HiLux Hybrid 48V – mid 2024
It hasn’t confirmed exactly what it will be called, but Toyota Australia has confirmed the hybrid HiLux – officially named the HiLux Hybrid 48V in Europe – will be offered here.
Whatever name it gets, it will use an electric generator and lithium battery that provides an additional 12kW and 65Nm – in conjunction with regenerative braking – to the 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine.
The small fuel efficiency gain – which the car maker says is around 10 per cent, which would give the SR5 HiLux 4x4 dual-cab automatic a 7.1L/100km combined fuel figure – is why it is reluctant the chest-beat about the new model.
Will Toyota attempt a final variant for this generation of HiLux to compete directly with Ford’s successful Ranger Raptor performance flagship? The Hilux GR Sport was a step towards that, but if it’s going to happen it seems more likely the Japanese brand will wait for the next-generation ute.
Which brings us to that other key question: will we see the ninth-generation HiLux in 2024? We don’t expect to see it on sale here before 2025, but it’s possible Toyota will at least reveal it next year, even if in concept form.
Toyota Tundra
It's all but official that Toyota will take on the Ford F-150, Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado with its own US-sourced full-size pick-up.
A few hundred 'prototype' examples of right-hand-drive-converted Tundras will be the hands of cherry-picked Australian customers by April, as part of an intensive local development program.
While Toyota Australia makes us wait longer for official confirmation, the local Tundras - converted by local company Walkinshaw Automotive Group - feature an 'i-Force Max' petrol-electric drivetrain with 326kW and 790Nm.
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