With a Toyota HiLux Rugged X and a KTM 250 EXC-F Dirt Bike

Rugged by name, rugged by nature, the Toyota HiLux has made a name for itself over the last forty years. The ‘unbreakable’ work truck is now equally adept at unbreakable play, and it could be yours, along with a KTM dirt bike, for the lucky winner of Draw Two in Mater Cars for Cancer lottery No. 105.

Winning Draw Two of the current Mater Cars for Cancer lottery No. 105 isn’t about waiting for life to happen; it’s about getting out there and getting after it. So many people agree that there’s an actual shortage of HiLux products at the moment, but not for Mater Cars for Cancer.

The HiLux Rugged X is built in Thailand; nothing new there, but the final assembly to bring it to a spec beloved by tradies and adventurers alike is done right here in Australia. Featuring a heap of go-anywhere and luxury appointments, it’s a properly awesome truck. Just how awesome? Finding out is as easy as buying a ticket for $30 and winning Draw Two in lottery No. 105. You would be helping those trying to cure cancer as well as those living with it, and let’s face it, someone has to win the package; only with a ticket could that be you.

The Rugged X runs the same turbocharged, 1GD-FTV 2.8 litre common-rail diesel four found in the Prado Kakadu, but weighing around 350kgs less means it will get up and boogie with fervour. Or you could easily put 734kg of stuff in the back and get off the beaten track. Either way, not much will worry it whether it’s boogieing or ‘beaten tracking’, as the HiLux Rugged X has a snorkel for those dusty roads and river crossings, a heavy-duty suspension and underbody package for those gravelly grinds, and a slick hoopless bull bar with bash plate, allowing you to tame the trickiest of terrain.

The truck-like interior found in the HiLux of yesteryear is now a fading memory, as the Rugged X runs plush, leather-accented seats, premium JBL sound and a small but informative, 4.2in information display. Truck-like safety is also gone, with pedestrian detection, autonomous braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist. These qualities, along with a seven-airbag passive safety system, give the HiLux Rugged X a five-star ANCAP rating, ensuring you, your mates and your family are safe on and off the road.

At 1855mm, the HiLux Rugged X is a big beast, so what to do when the trails are narrow by nature? Well, it’s then time to offload the KTM 250 EXC-F dirt bike Mater Cars for Cancer will include for the lucky winner of Draw Two, lottery No. 105. I’ve written about the KTM EXC-series before, and it’s a hell of a bike that comes highly recommended.

First and foremost, it’s a great ride; light, nimble, and perfect for both beginner and experienced riders alike. The four-stroke 250cc DOHC single has the goods to get you through most situations, whether that’s sticky mud and gunk, or the dusty tracks of an easy outback trip. For the chance to get tripping, get yourself a ticket.

Reviews for the KTM EXC-series stretch back over a decade and they’re never bad, yet the rolling KTM stone gathers no moss (unless it’s kicked up by the MAXXIS MaxxEnduro tyres). The EXC has received plenty of model updates over the years and naturally, 2022 is their best year yet. The 250cc engine runs a balancer shaft to subdue the single’s vibrato song, the suspension features retuned WP XPLOR shockers for a firmer, more responsive feel and the gearbox is a six-speeder, giving the EXC-F the flexibility of both grunt and legs. It’s a pretty good combination.

Draw Two in Mater Cars for Cancer lottery No. 105 covers a lot of ground; both the HiLux Rugged X and the KTM 250 EXC-F can handle the shopping centres, the C-roads and beyond. Winning Draw Two means you can go and get after it on the weekends, but still go and get the groceries during the week. But first, give yourself the chance to go and get after it at all, by grabbing a ticket or two in Mater Cars for Cancer lottery No. 105.