Toyota Hilux: the new generation will be hybrid, electric and hydrogen

Act nine for the Toyota Hiluxa pick-up which since its introduction in 1968 has represented a real point of reference for the entire segment. In the course of 57 years old of career and eight different generations, the Hilux has been produced in more than 20 million units marketed in every corner of the world, including naturally the most remote and inhospitable ones. A global product, therefore, which must be designed to adapt to the needs of a particularly large audience. And for this reason, with its ninth generation, the Hilux will provide a range of power supplies vast as never before, no longer just petrol and diesel, but mild hybrid, electric and even hydrogen fuel cell.

hybrid

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The hybrid Toyota Hilux will adopt a powertrain 2.8 liter turbodiesel of displacement and 204 HP of power, combined with a 48V mild hybrid architecture powered by a lithium ion battery placed under the rear seats. The hybrid component adds up to 11 HP and 65 Nm to the system, plus it helps to contain consumption by assisting the thermal engine, especially during starting, as well as lowering the minimum engine speed from 720 to 600 rpm. Off-road performance is unchanged compared to the previous pure thermal versions, because the entire hybrid component has been positioned so as not to steal space from the body or reduce the fording ability maximum, always equal to 700 mm. The maximum payload is one tonne, while the towing capacity is up to 3,500 kg. Naturally, it remains at the driver’s disposal Multi Terrain Selectwhich modifies the traction control systems to adapt the Hilux to different surfaces with Auto, Dirt (dirt), Sand (sand), Mud (mud), Deep Snow (deep snow) and Rock (rocks) modes. Using a knob it is possible to adjust the traction on rear, all-wheel and reduced gears, while the differential lock is activated with a button.

electric

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The new battery version of the Toyota Hilux is fitted instead two electric motorsone per axle, for which at the moment the manufacturer only communicates the specific torque, 205 Nm on the front axle and 286.6 Nm on the rear. What feeds them is one drums lithium ion from 59.2 kWh for a maximum declared autonomy of 240 kilometres. Again for the electric Hilux, the pre-homologation data provided by Toyota speak of a payload of 715 kg and a towing capacity of 1,600 kg. Compared to the hybrid counterpart, the electric one does not introduce limitations in terms of off-road performance: the battery is protected from impacts and water infiltration, while the fording capacity remains unchanged. In 2028 the Hilux zero-emission range will be enriched with the debut of the engine fuel cell hydrogen. It is therefore still an electric vehicle, but instead of being powered only by a battery, it takes its energy from fuel cells, which produce electricity and generate H2O and distilled water as the only exhaust gas.

the news

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In addition to the engines, the ninth generation of Toyota Hilux brings with it numerous other new features. What changes is first of all theaestheticsmade worse with a new, more angular and aggressive front. In the center is a grille with hexagonal holes, which in the case of the electric version are plugged for better aerodynamics, accompanied by thinner light clusters and modern internal graphics. The range of available configurations also changes, which from now on will be limited only to the a format double cabin. In the interior, the new generation of the Hilux partially takes up what has already been seen with the Land Cruiser off-roader, with digital instrumentation and 12.3″ infotainment interface. Among the new features, also the adoption of an electric power steering, the MyToyota app for monitoring Hiluxes part of fleets, driver attention monitoring, blind spot camera and the update of Toyota Safety Sense, with new functions for the model and updateable over-the-air.