Tag Archives: Hilux

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Toyota Electrifies the Hilux While Keeping Its Work-Truck Roots

The Toyota Hilux has survived just about everything short of atmospheric reentry. It’s slogged through floods, clawed its way out of mud pits, and famously endured being dropped from a Top Gear crane—though, notably, not from a helicopter. Now Toyota is testing the Hilux with a far more existential challenge: staying relevant in a future where diesel is no longer king.

At this week’s Brussels Motor Show, Toyota unveiled the Euro-spec ninth-generation Hilux in two new flavors: a mild-hybrid diesel and the first-ever fully electric Hilux BEV. Both trucks debuted earlier in Asia, but their arrival in Europe signals something bigger. This isn’t just an update—it’s Toyota hedging its bets.

One Truck, Many Futures

Toyota calls it a “multipath strategy,” which is corporate shorthand for “we’re not betting everything on one powertrain.” And for many Hilux buyers, that means business as usual. The familiar 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel lives on, now paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. Output remains 201 horsepower (204 PS), and the truck retains its crucial stats: a 2,205-pound payload and a 7,720-pound tow rating.

In the UK and most of Europe, Toyota expects this mild-hybrid diesel to be the volume seller—even after the EV arrives. It’s smoother and slightly cleaner than before, but more importantly, it doesn’t ask loyal Hilux owners to rethink how they work.

Some markets will even get a non-hybrid diesel, proving that Toyota still understands where the Hilux earns its living.

The Electric Hilux: Tough, but Compromised

The real headline, of course, is the Hilux BEV. Powered by a 59.2-kWh battery and dual motors—one on each axle—it delivers permanent all-wheel drive and instant electric torque. The front motor produces 151 lb-ft of torque, while the rear contributes 198 lb-ft.

Range is quoted at 160 miles on the WLTP cycle, which sounds underwhelming until you realize this is a ladder-frame pickup, not a sleek crossover. In urban use, Toyota claims up to 236 miles, which makes the BEV Hilux plausible for city-based fleets and short-haul work.

There are trade-offs. Payload drops to 1,580 pounds, and towing capacity falls sharply to 3,530 pounds. That’s a big hit for traditional truck buyers, but Toyota is clearly aiming the electric Hilux at businesses focused on emissions, taxes, and running costs—not livestock trailers.

Crucially, the fundamentals remain intact. The BEV keeps the body-on-frame construction, 8.4 inches of ground clearance, and a genuinely impressive 27.6 inches of wading depth. There’s even a dedicated off-road drive mode tuned specifically for electric torque delivery and regenerative braking.

Not Just Electric—Hydrogen Is Coming Too

If that weren’t enough, Toyota has also confirmed that a hydrogen fuel-cell Hilux is in development—and already being tested publicly. Yes, the same truck once known for hauling bricks and sheep may soon carry a fuel-cell stack. Whether hydrogen pickups make sense at scale is still an open question, but Toyota clearly intends the Hilux to outlast whatever powertrain trends come and go.

Cyber Sumo Styling and a Modern Cabin

Both the mild-hybrid and BEV versions wear Toyota’s new “Cyber Sumo” design, reportedly developed by the brand’s Australian team. It’s more angular, flatter, and bolder than before, giving the Hilux a tougher, more modern presence—though not everyone will love the look.

The EV stands out with a blanked-off grille and a subtly redesigned silver bumper insert, but otherwise the two trucks are visually similar.

Inside the crew-cab-only cabin, the Hilux finally catches up to modern expectations. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster sits alongside a matching touchscreen, and the steering wheel comes straight from the new Land Cruiser. There’s smart storage, dashboard-mounted cupholders, and a full suite of safety tech—balanced, refreshingly, by plenty of physical buttons for things you actually use while wearing gloves.

When Can You Buy One?

UK sales begin in June, with prices expected to land in the coming months. Toyota has already hinted they’ll be higher than the outgoing model, which should surprise exactly no one.

Still, the bigger story isn’t the price—it’s longevity. By offering diesel, mild-hybrid, battery-electric, and eventually hydrogen power, Toyota is making sure the Hilux doesn’t just survive the electric transition. It adapts.

And if history tells us anything, betting against a Hilux is rarely a smart move.

Source: Toyota

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2026 Toyota Hilux Goes Electric

Few badges carry the kind of global weight the Toyota Hilux does. For more than half a century, this unbreakable workhorse has earned its reputation on construction sites, farms, and overland trails around the world. From the Australian Outback to the African bush, the Hilux has become shorthand for durability. Now, Toyota is ready to give its toughest truck a 21st-century edge — by plugging it in.

At a global premiere in Bangkok, Toyota Motor Corporation unveiled the ninth-generation Hilux, headlined by an all-new battery electric vehicle (BEV) variant. The announcement wasn’t just about electrification, though. It was about philosophy — specifically, Toyota’s “multi-pathway approach” to achieving carbon neutrality.

A Hilux for Every Road, and Every Region

Toyota’s approach to going green isn’t one-size-fits-all. Rather than betting the farm on battery-electric vehicles, the automaker is hedging with a mix of BEVs, hybrid electrics, and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) — all designed to match the energy realities of different markets.

“The truth is simple,” said Simon Humphries, Toyota’s Chief Branding Officer, during the premiere. “No two regions are the same, and no customer is the same.”

The BEV Hilux will lead the charge in Asia starting in 2026, while a diesel-powered variant remains on the menu for markets like Japan, arriving mid-year. But Toyota isn’t stopping there — a hydrogen fuel-cell Hilux is on the way too, targeting Europe and Oceania from 2028 onward.

That’s right: one nameplate, three powertrains, and one goal — ensuring that nobody gets left behind on the road to carbon neutrality.

The Electric Hilux: Specs and Substance

Underneath the familiar ladder-frame toughness lies a new electric heart. The Hilux BEV prototype boasts a 59.2-kWh lithium-ion battery tucked neatly under the floor, contributing to a cruising range of 300 km (186 miles) or more. Dual high-output eAxles — one front, one rear — deliver 144 kW (193 hp) and instant torque to all four wheels.

It’s still very much a truck: 4WD, 5,320 mm long, 1,855 mm wide, 1,800 mm tall, and built on the kind of robust bones that made Hilux a legend. Toyota says the advanced control systems ensure off-road performance that lives up to the badge’s reputation — not just a zero-emission commuter, but a zero-emission workhorse.

Thailand: The Beating Heart of Hilux

The launch in Bangkok wasn’t accidental. Thailand isn’t just another market for Toyota — it’s the spiritual home of the Hilux. The country has been building the truck since the 1960s and today serves as a global production hub.

“Our partnership with Thailand is proof that global success comes from local strength,” Humphries said. Over 13 million vehicles have rolled off Toyota’s Thai production lines, and the Hilux remains the national favorite — so much so that many locals call it “Thailand’s national vehicle.”

The ties run deeper than business. Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda once led the IMV project from Thailand — the initiative that made the Hilux a truly global truck platform in 2004. That legacy continues with this new generation.

The Hilux Spirit Lives On

Despite the shift toward electrons and hydrogen, Toyota insists the Hilux’s soul remains intact. Humphries described the new generation as “strong, sturdy, and focused” — a reflection of the same dependable DNA that’s helped farmers, families, and explorers alike for decades.

The event even drew cultural parallels between the Hilux’s enduring spirit and sumo wrestling, with former Yokozuna Hakuho Sho joining the stage. Like sumo, the Hilux is about “strength, balance, and discipline,” said Hakuho — a fitting metaphor for a truck adapting to new rules without losing its core.

What It Means

The BEV Hilux isn’t chasing range records or luxury status. It’s a pragmatic, purpose-built EV for developing markets — a truck that recognizes that electrification doesn’t have to mean reinvention. It’s a bold move from an automaker known for caution, and a sign that Toyota’s multi-pathway philosophy may be more than marketing rhetoric.

As the 9th-generation Hilux rolls out, the message is clear: the road to carbon neutrality isn’t straight — it’s as diverse as the drivers who depend on it.

Or as Toyota might put it: the Hilux isn’t just going electric — it’s evolving to power the world, one region at a time.

Source: Toyota

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2025 Toyota Hilux: The Legend Reloaded (At Last)

The wait is (almost) over for Toyota’s next Hilux — and frankly, it’s about time. After months of grainy spy shots, forum debates, and more leaks than a worn-out radiator hose, Toyota has finally confirmed that the all-new Hilux will make its official debut in Thailand on November 10. To mark the occasion, the automaker dropped a short teaser video, giving us our first official look at the next generation of its iconic midsize pickup.

Sharper Looks, Familiar Bones

Let’s start with what we can see. The 2025 Hilux steps into the spotlight with a leaner, meaner face. Slimmer LED headlights flank a more sculpted hood, while chunkier bumper intakes give the front end a purposeful, almost Tacoma-like stance. A big, bold TOYOTA badge sprawls across the grille — subtlety clearly wasn’t invited to this design meeting.

From the side, the new Hilux keeps its well-known proportions. The dual-cab silhouette, signature sports bar, and muscled fenders remain intact, but the details have evolved. At the rear, the taillights now adopt angular LED graphics that modernize the truck’s backside, complete with a tailgate that features a neat integrated lip spoiler. The teaser truck rides on seven-double-spoke black alloys, because no modern pickup is complete without a set of dark wheels to emphasize its toughness.

Inside Scoop: SUV Vibes Incoming

Toyota hasn’t shown the interior yet, but leaked images have already given away the game. Expect a digital instrument cluster, a freestanding infotainment display, and an angular dashboard design that moves the Hilux closer to SUV territory in both look and feel. Toyota is also said to be improving material quality, which should make life inside feel a little less “contractor at dawn” and a little more “executive off-roader.”

Under the Skin: Old-School Strength with New Tricks

Despite the new face, the next-gen Hilux isn’t jumping to Toyota’s shiny TNGA-F platform — the same architecture that underpins the new Tacoma and Land Cruiser. Instead, it sticks with an updated version of the existing IMV ladder-frame chassis, a tried-and-true setup that’s helped the Hilux earn its bulletproof reputation across deserts, jungles, and job sites worldwide.

Toyota promises reworked suspension tuning and a beefed-up suite of driver aids to help bring the truck up to modern expectations. Translation: it should feel a bit less agricultural and a bit more composed on paved roads.

Powertrain: Diesel Still Rules (for Now)

Under the hood, the familiar 2.8-liter turbodiesel remains the workhorse of choice, now paired with a mild-hybrid system. Output holds steady at around 201 horsepower (204 PS) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque, channeled through an automatic transmission to either two or four wheels.

Don’t expect to see the smaller 2.4-liter diesel or the 2.7-liter gasoline engine hang around much longer — recent filings suggest both are headed for retirement. Down the road, Toyota is expected to roll out hybrid and fully electric variants, ensuring the Hilux can keep its reputation for torque while appealing to the increasingly electrified pickup crowd.

The Competition Heats Up

When it lands, the new Hilux will be marching straight into a battlefield bristling with talent. The Ford Ranger continues to set the benchmark for ride comfort and tech, the Volkswagen Amarok offers Euro flair, and the Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, and Mitsubishi Triton each bring their own loyal followings. Add in newcomers like the Kia Tasman and a growing swarm of Chinese entries, and Toyota’s latest truck will need more than just its legendary name to stay on top.

Coming Soon

We’ll know all the details — pricing, trims, and just how “new” the new Hilux really is — when Toyota pulls the covers off on November 10 in Thailand, where production will continue. One thing’s for sure: after nearly a decade of service from the outgoing model, the world’s favorite pickup is finally getting the reboot it deserves.

Source: Toyota