TNZ explains why a Hilux named after an alpha sea predator has been elusive, but won’t be from now on.

 ISSUES achieving vital components from overseas’ suppliers are resolved and Kiwis are starting to seriously hook into the Mako. 

That’s the word out of Toyota New Zealand in respect to why their wild-looking local development of the SR5 Cruiser might have seemed a rare sight so far.

Announced last October, when TNZ released the Hilux in its mid-life facelift formats, Mako was fully expected then to begin roll-out from March this year. 

However, the going got tougher than expected for a Kiwi special that, with a $21,000 premium over the donor, became a $79,990 buy-in.

“We had hoped to be begin production and supply in March,” explained TNZ new vehicles manager Steve Prangnell (below).

“…but we had some component supply delays out of Australia.

“Simply the accessories and aftermarket industry there has been under the same sort of pressures that New Zealand will be familiar with (due to coronavirus issues). 

“They just couldn’t meet our requirements in respect to supply quantities.”

By then, TNZ held an order bank for 110 vehicles. But very few were lost when the Palmerston North-based distributor explained the wait was going to be longer than expected.

“We contacted every customer personally and explained the situation. We had three cancellations.”

TNZ has not specified what exactly was proving difficult to source, but it was obviously dealing with a lot of different suppliers.

The unique fender flares, side steps with “Mako” logos, T Custom Sports Guard non-slip deck liner, damper-shocked soft-close tailgate and heavy-duty rear step bumper were developed just for this model.

On the inside, the front chairs are replaced by higher-backed and bolstered motorsport-style items (akin to Gladiator’s tombstone seats), trimmed in full custom leather by a local supplier. It also achieves a bespoke steering wheel and a leather centre console lid. 

The items make the Mako feel substantially different to the donor are the suspension - a full Old Man Emu BP-51 shock set – the 18-inch Black Rhino rims sourced from the US and Maxxis Razr 265/60 all-terrain tyres.

Mako’s brake package is also beefed up; 15mm larger rotors and four-piston calipers plucked from the Fortuner sports utility.

While TNZ didn’t have all those bits, it did have the donor vehicles set aside and ready for conversion.

“We made the offer to customers that ‘you could take those vehicles to use and, when the components became available, we would take the vehicles and build another brand-new one for you.’

“A couple of people accepted that proposal, though not as many as I thought might.” The rest settled in to wait.

Anyway, that’s all history now. The parts supply is running smoothly and the assembly process is under way – fittingly, at the Thames facility which, though best known as a refurbishment centre, was actually once a car assembly plant, producing thousands of Corollas and Corona cars (but not Hilux; those came out of another CKD plant in Christchurch).

By end of this month, 37 will have been created. TNZ also has a couple of early sample models.

So, still a rare sight but a growing population. And more are difnbitiely coming.

“We’ve ordered 200 sets of components … it’s not a limited edition but an actual model, so it’s open-ended as to how many come out.”

The build rate limits to around 20 a month because each requires around 44 hours’ work. TNZ has four staff dedicated to fitting accessory line products and, understandably, Mako is by far the single biggest job they undertake.