The Thailand Special Thread - New Developments/News

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Giant Cranium

I can't figure out how they can't fix the rear track on the cruiser but can make the hilux 100mm all round wider in the last 1/4 of its life cycle

It's because of the wagons.
Toyota won't retool the rear quarters to make them wider just for the Australian market.
Australia is the only country to get diesel V8 79 series.
Rest of the world gets either V6 petrol or the old straight 6 TD, which have the narrower front track.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by XR Martin

It's because of the wagons.
Toyota won't retool the rear quarters to make them wider just for the Australian market.
Australia is the only country to get diesel V8 79 series.
Rest of the world gets either V6 petrol or the old straight 6 TD, which have the narrower front track.

The irony is the 1HD-FTE is the gold standard engine everyone wants, that you pay through the *** for, massive premium for a cruiser with that engine.

http://japengineimports.com.au/produ...series-engine/

Second handy is $15K alone.

[Sprintey]

Yeah it's a mystery why they didn't continue that straight 6 diesel and just update it, it's a gem. It's like they engineered themselves complex future problems.

[Franco Cozzo]

Comes with Hilux 1GR-FE and 1HD-FTE in international markets I think - would be great options for our market to have those two.

[Sprintey]

It wouldn't be our fuel standards that rule it out surely

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

It wouldn't be our fuel standards that rule it out surely

We had both engines in our market 15-20 years ago,

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

https://www.drive.com.au/news/toyota...der-exclusive/

VDJ79 joins the Thailand Special club

I think its hilarious that the Hilux 2.8L has more muscle than the 4.5L V8

That's just embarrassing.

Originally Posted by Sprintey

They can finally fix the wheel track!

Originally Posted by Giant Cranium

I can't figure out how they can't fix the rear track on the cruiser but can make the hilux 100mm all round wider in the last 1/4 of its life cycle

When they have a long line of suckers willing to part big dollars for them, they don't even need to.

Someone is coming to steal that market from them though, just like Hilux they have sat on their hands too long. People will gladly swap, because they can't get them anyway, cause the order books have been closed for a while, and the waiting list is over 2 years.

[ToryMikey]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

The irony is the 1HD-FTE is the gold standard engine everyone wants, that you pay through the *** for, massive premium for a cruiser with that engine.

http://japengineimports.com.au/produ...series-engine/

Second handy is $15K alone.

It's almost as if an inline six is God's own engine layout.

[eb2fairmont]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

The irony is the 1HD-FTE is the gold standard engine everyone wants, that you pay through the *** for, massive premium for a cruiser with that engine.

http://japengineimports.com.au/produ...series-engine/

Second handy is $15K alone.

Spent a lot of time behind the wheel of 1HD and 1VD cruisers. On paper the 1VD is supposed to have more torque at 1100 rpm but I found them gutless compared to the 1HD.

Found the 1HD better in sand, revved harder, better torque spread, less peaky it just goes on.

The track issue is just BS I never found it an issue for the work I was doing, and on the road it gave the front end a bit better grip.

[DFB FGXR6]

Ford have revealed the US version of the new Ranger.

Key thing to note is the availability of the 2.7 Ecoboost V6 with 315 hp. Would be interesting to see if they put this into the Australian versions, perhaps taking some of the pressure off the diesel V6.

https://www.autoblog.com/2023/05/10/...ptor-revealed/

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Ford have revealed the US version of the new Ranger.

Key thing to note is the availability of the 2.7 Ecoboost V6 with 315 hp. Would be interesting to see if they put this into the Australian versions, perhaps taking some of the pressure off the diesel V6.

https://www.autoblog.com/2023/05/10/...ptor-revealed/

They should. But they won't. I'd choose it over the V6 diesel i've ordered. If I ever get the thing. Been waiting 6 months already, and still don't even have a build date yet. Won't be this year, missed out on an allocation for 2023 and looks like first quarter next year is most likely. The V6 petrol would help clear that backlog as you said.

I'm actually surprised that most, if not all of the auto news pages never got wind of the v6 petrol option for the US. It was always the 2.3 mentioned as the engine choice. Never the V6.

[naddis01]

What countries get the 2.3?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by naddis01

What countries get the 2.3?

We'll get it but only in the Amarok top spec job.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by naddis01

What countries get the 2.3?

Only ever in the US-only Ranger and now in the Amarok globally..

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by naddis01

What countries get the 2.3?

All of North America, China and some other asian countries, and possibly some middle east and south american ones.

I'm pretty sure Thailand manufacturers some, but I don't know which countries they go to in asia. Not Thailand.

[Bossxr8]

VW have already ditched the manual version of the Amarok due to low take up. They are bringing in one batch already ordered, and won't bring in any more.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/new-vo...-already-axed/

[FTE217]

not surprised but again another nail for stick shift devotees, sad tbh.

[naddis01]

https://www.drive.com.au/news/kia-ut...etails-leaked/

2025 KIA ute confirmed for Australia

South Korean car giant Kia will finally join the booming double-cab ute segment with an all-new model coming to Australian showrooms in 2025.

Joshua Dowling

15:10 26 May 2023




2025 Kia ute confirmed for Australia7 imagesPhotoIcon
The top-selling Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger utes will soon have a new challenger in Australia.

Kia has today told dealers in a confidential briefing it will have a double-cab ute in Australian showrooms in 2025.

Limited information was shared with dealers during the biggest meeting of the year – held in Sydney – however they were advised in general terms what customers can expect.


Kia dealers in Australia were told to expect a "genuine and serious rival" to the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, which have been the top-two selling vehicles in Australia for the past six years in row.

The as-yet unnamed Kia ute will likely supercharge the brand's sales in Australia after it overtook its South Korean sibling Hyundai for the first time locally last year – and continues to lead its in-house competitor so far this year.

2025 Kia ute confirmed for Australia7 imagesPhotoIcon
Dealers were told Australia has been at the centre of the development of the Kia ute, and the project has been underway since 2020.


For now it remains unclear whether Hyundai will adopt a version of this vehicle – given the companies share many models but with different bodywork – or go in its own direction.

As previously reported by Drive, while Kia intends to tackle the heavy-duty diesel-powered double-cab ute market in Australia – one of the fastest-growing segments locally – Hyundai dealers have been advised the company is exploring the possibility of the Santa Cruz light-duty "lifestyle" pick-up.

Kia dealers were told the model code of the company's new ute is 'TK', but for now the name it will wear in showrooms is yet to be announced.


According to information shared with dealers at the conference, the new Kia pick-up will have the same towing and carrying capacity as the top-selling utes locally. That means a maximum tow rating of up to 3500kg, and a maximum payload of close to 1000kg.

2025 Kia ute confirmed for Australia7 imagesPhotoIcon
It is unclear which engines will power the new model, however dealers were told the vehicle will use diesel, not petrol propulsion.

This could mean the 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel in the current Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe family SUVs, or a version of the 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-diesel in the Genesis GV80 luxury SUV.


An electric version may follow, given Kia head office has previously confirmed it is developing two electric pick-ups, although they may be different sizes to the one Australia is getting.

Bucking the industry trend of forming partnerships – such as the jointly-developed Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50, and Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok – it appears Kia has elected to go it alone.

This means it has done more exhaustive testing on this vehicle than any other that precedes it in the Kia range; and it is understood to have bought a fleet of Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger vehicles to use as benchmarks throughout the engineering program.


Even though the top-secret Kia ute has been in development for three and a half years, few spy photos have emerged.

The first glimpse of the new Kia pick-up – which will also debut a new heavy-duty ladder-frame chassis for the company – appeared on South Korean social-media websites in November 2022.

Spy photos have shown camouflaged prototypes which appear to borrow design cues from from the Kia Mohave SUV in South Korea.

However these may be early test "mules" built using existing parts to cover the underpinnings of the new model, and therefore we are yet to see any clues about the final design.

2025 Kia ute confirmed for Australia7 imagesPhotoIcon
A number of Kia dealers canvassed by Drive said a double-cab ute is "long overdue", and noted that the brand is ready to take the next step in its growth in Australia.

While a number of dealers shared their excitement about the confidential Kia ute, for now the company remains tight-lipped about the project.


However, Kia has acknowledged it will enter the pick-up market at some point in the next few years.

"Kia is currently developing a future pickup truck model that will be highly capable and fit for purpose. Additional details will be confirmed in due course."

[Franco Cozzo]

More competition is a good thing, hopefully it comes with the inline 6 turbo diesel engine.

Though Hyundai/Kia's 2.2L turbo diesel 4 cylinder isn't bad either, but ideally it has both options,

[Bossxr8]

Some info on Ranger PHEV due next year with 2.3 turbo.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/2024-f...ack-australia/

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

More competition is a good thing, hopefully it comes with the inline 6 turbo diesel engine.

Though Hyundai/Kia's 2.2L turbo diesel 4 cylinder isn't bad either, but ideally it has both options,

The 2.2 is a 148kw/440nm thing as it sits in the Sorento which is ballpark for some (non ranger) utes anyway. If they can up the torque to close to 500NM, and give the option of the 6 pot diesel for higher spec versions it could be worth a look....

[vbomber]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Some info on Ranger PHEV due next year with 2.3 turbo.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/2024-f...ack-australia/

I thought it was the 2.0L hmmmm

[Dr Smith]

What do you think, say a combined 250kW and 550Nm ...

[DFB FGXR6]

So, are we going to consider the forthcoming Kia "Tasman" a Thailand Special?

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...rgets-revealed

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

So, are we going to consider the forthcoming Kia "Tasman" a Thailand Special?

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...rgets-revealed

We consider LDV's Thailand Specials even though they come from China, so if the shoe fits I reckon it fits the bill of Thailand Special.

[Bossxr8]

Amarok is in the same boat then I guess, coming from South Africa.

Might consider a name change to some are from Thailand special? Rumours are the Ranger PHEV will be sourced from South Africa as well.

Also the Ssangyong Musso is from South Korea.

Thailand/China/South Africa/South Korea special?

[FTE217]

Bitsaspecials ?

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Bitsaspecials ?

Maybe for the Bitsamissing Triton.



Finke desert race is on this weekend. Will be tuning into a live cross from the factory Ford team at 11.30. Largely Walkinshaw Racing with the backing of Ford Performance.

[Bossxr8]

Doing shake down runs today, with some minor suspension tuning to cater for the extra weight in the back of spare tyres and tools. Can run most of the course in 2H, no real need to run 4H. Race starts about 8.30 tomorrow morning. Filming a docuseries about the lead up preparation and the race which will be available to view in a week or so.

[PooDog]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Maybe for the Bitsamissing Triton.



Finke desert race is on this weekend. Will be tuning into a live cross from the factory Ford team at 11.30. Largely Walkinshaw Racing with the backing of Ford Performance.

Can't have had too many bits missing when it took the race out last year