Toyota HiLux Invincible 50 special edition launches

Toyota’s iconic HiLux nameplate turned 50 years old this year, and so to celebrate the Japanese manufacturer has organised a little birthday present, partnering with Arctic Trucks to reveal a seriously beefed-up special edition of one of Australia’s most popular vehicles.

But don't get too excited just yet, the HiLux Invincible 50 special edition - designed to celebrate Toyota's conquering of both the North and South Poles with the TopGear TV show - is limited to just 50 examples, and it's so far only being offered in the UK.

Those Pole-conquering utes were built with the help of Iceland-based modification specialists Arctic Trucks, who have again lent a hand to the Invincible 50.

The aftermarket company is behind the new (and presumably much hardier) Bilstein performance suspension set-up, while the wheels have been swapped out for bespoke 16-inch satin black alloys wrapped in all-terrain rubber.

The two companies claim the changes give the HiLux “even greater off-road capability”, raising the Toyota by 40mm at the front and 20mm at the rear. The lift means better approach and departure angles, and the set-up allows for better wheel articulation, too.

Elsewhere, the body has been tweaked to look wider and and tougher, and there’s a new sports bar fitted above the tray which is home to a row of four high-powered LED spotlights. New mudflaps, a tray liner and and a heap of new chrome badging (including a numbered plaque in the cabin) complete the visual overhaul.

Under the bonnet, expect the HiLux’s 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, good for 110kW and 400Nm.

Toyota in the UK is opening order books on November 1, with pricing yet to be confirmed. But given the limited numbers, don't hold your breath for the Invincible to arrive in Australia.

Is this the ultimate HiLux? Tell us in the comments below.