Toyota to build real-life Tonka truck

Toyota is about to make every boyhood dream come true.

The Japanese brand has confirmed it is building a real-life Tonka truck based on its top-selling HiLux to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the Toyota Motor Corporation and the 70th birthday for Tonka.

The car has been created by Toyota Australia's design team and will be based on the range-topping HiLux SR5 dual-cab 4x4. The team promises that "almost every exterior HiLux surface will be beefed up as part of the Tonka metamorphosis."

In doing so, it will feature new bumpers and an aggressive front grille as well as a revised tailgate, wider wheel aches and beefed-up door mouldings..

Judging by the sketch image released, it will also have a jacked-up ride height and wear larger wheels and tyres.

Toyota Australia's product design chief Nicolas Hogios said combining the tough and enduring DNA of the HiLux and Tonka brands was a natural fit.

"We expect the extreme style and capability of our re-imagined HiLux will capture the imagination of kids and adults alike," Hogios said.

"HiLux is such a great canvas, and we really pushed the envelope by marrying our number-one seller with the Tonka brand. The end result is so exciting because the HiLux Tonka really delivers the dream of every Australian kid who ever wanted such a truck."

The Tonka-tough HiLux is currently being built and is expected to be finished within the next few months.

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