Toyota has announced further details for its Hilux 48V mild hybrid pickup ahead of its arrival next year.
Revealed in November alongside the new Proace Max large van, it’s part of the renewed, full and electrified Toyota Professional LCV line-up, which also includes the updated Proace City and Proace compact and medium-duty vans.
It’s the first time that the Hilux, initially launched in 1968, has been available with electrification. Toyota also revealed a hydrogen-fuelled Hilux prototype earlier this year.
The mild hybrid assistance will improve fuel efficiency by up to 5%, while also enhancing driving performance and giving a more comfortable drive in both urban and off-road environments.
That’s without any compromises in its towing and payload capacity or its off-road capability.
The new powertrain uses Toyota’s 204hp Euro 6d-compliant 2.8-litre diesel engine, which drives a compact motor generator using a belt system, which in turn charges a 48V lithium battery. The compact battery weighs 7.6kg and is installed beneath the rear seats, minimising the impact on cabin space. It also supplies the vehicle’s 12V system through a DC/DC converter.
As with Toyota’s full hybrid electric systems, the battery is charged during deceleration, efficiently regenerating braking energy and providing additional braking performance. Once charged, it sends up to 16hp of power and 65Nm of torque through the motor-generator to the engine to enhance acceleration, power and efficiency.
The compact motor generator has been designed to withstand harsh working environments, while the engine has been modified to accommodate the hybrid system. A new two-arm belt tensioner and stronger belt material contribute to the improved drivability and a quieter ride.
In common with existing Hilux, Land Cruiser and Proace models, the Hilux Hybrid 48V is compatible with HVO100 diesel, a non-fossil fuel made from 100% renewable sources.
Alongside efficiency benefits, the new powertrain is said to enhance braking performance, ride and the stop-start system.
Featured for the first time on a Hilux, the Multi-terrain Select system provides extra performance and control by giving the driver the option to adjust vehicle stability control settings according to specific driving conditions. It can be set to an automatic setup, or one of five pre-set options – Dirt, Sand, Mud, Deep Snow or Rock.
The Hilux Hybrid 48V can also negotiate water up to 700mm deep thanks to waterproofing of the 48V battery and DC-DC converter, while anti-slip and strengthening measures on the motor-generator pulley and belt ensure optimum performance, even when wet.
In the UK, it will be introduced on Invincible and Invincible X grades, with automatic transmission.
Available exclusively in Double Cab format, the Hilux Hybrid 48V will come with a three-dimensional grille and front bumper and will feature the latest Toyota Safety Sense technology.
Toyota said its expanded Professional line-up demonstrates its renewed commitment to commercial vehicles. The company aims to increase sales volumes in this sector, which spanned 119,000 vehicles in Europe in 2022, and is on track to set a new record of more than 140,000 this year.
The new Hilux Hybrid 48V will arrive at dealers in the UK and Europe in mid-2024. Prices are yet to be announced.
