Toyota’s back-to-basics ute concept shown with new body styles

The Toyota IMV 0 concept — also known as the Toyota Rangga concept — has been put on display again, this time at the Japan Mobility Show, the successor to the long-running Tokyo motor show.

The IMV 0/Rangga is thought to preview a stripped-back, low-cost ute that Toyota is developing primarily for developing markets, such as Africa and Latin America.

While details about the IMV 0’s drivetrain have yet to revealed, the company has said the production version can be offered with internal combustion, hybrid and electric drivetrains.

For its first outing on home soil — the IMV 0 made its debut in Thailand before being rechristened as the Rangga concept in Indonesia — Toyota has revealed the concept’s dimensions: 5300mm long, 1785mm wide, 1740mm tall, and a 3085mm wheelbase.

For context, the IMV 0 concept has the same wheelbase length as the long wheelbase HiLux, but is slightly narrower.

To go along with this tidbit, Toyota has unveiled a bunch of new body styles, including a Red Cross search and rescue ambulance, food truck, and a tricked out version with spoilers and neon lime highlights, as well as a variety of different tray designs.

Perhaps most appetising of all is an off-road version with a fat tyres, raised suspension, roof deck, and an additional passenger cabin wedged between the standard driver and front passenger cab and a shortened tray.

With its single cab body, minimalist design, and boxy detailing, the IMV 0/Rangga looks to be a successor to the first generation Kijang in Indonesia and Tamaraw in Philippines.

Development work is apparently continuing on the IMV 0, and a production version reportedly won’t be ready until 2025 or 2026.

Despite being similar in size to the current HiLux, the IMV 0, or whatever it will be called, will be priced below the HiLux. Its name suggests the new low-cost ute will be based on the IMV platform that serves as the basis for the current HiLux, Fortuner SUV, and Kijang people mover.

The next-generation HiLux is widely believed to be moving to the TNGA-F architecture that underpins the Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks in North America, as well as the LandCruiser and LandCruiser Prado.

It’s possible Toyota will move the HiLux slightly upmarket or remove some of the lower-end variants when the next generation debuts, giving the HiLux and IMV 0 a little bit more market space.

We don’t know if Toyota intends to make the IMV 0 available in developed markets, such as Australia or Europe.