Over greater than half a century, the Toyota Hilux has established a worldwide fame for distinctive energy and sturdiness, faithfully serving its homeowners and drivers on the planet’s most difficult environments. Throughout that point, it has additionally always advanced to grow to be a real dual-use automobile: it has retained all of the toughness and reliability required for critical work duties whereas providing the consolation, refinement, on-road poise and security for day-to-day and leisure driving.
This evolution enters a brand new part in 2025 with the introduction of the mannequin’s first electrified powertrain, the Toyota Hilux Hybrid 48V.
The 48V gentle hybrid system strengthens the Hilux’s proposition as an excellent associate for enterprise and industrial customers, delivering a number of advantages. Efficiency is smoother, quieter and extra refined, whether or not driving on commonplace roads or tackling harder terrain. Critically, that is achieved with out compromising the pick-up’s off-road prowess – notably there isn’t a impression on its deep water (700 mm) wading or its load-carrying capabilities. This has been achieved by guaranteeing elements such because the battery are positioned excessive up on the engine and utilizing a cloth layer within the construction of the timing belt – a Toyota first.
The Toyota Hilux Hybrid 48V is launched in Double Cab format on all grades, together with the flagship INVINCIBLE grade.
The Hilux is the primary mannequin to make use of the brand new Toyota 48V Hybrid system. This gentle hybrid powertrain retains the strengths of the pick-up’s confirmed 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine and introduces a brand new electrical motor-generator, a 48V lithium-ion hybrid battery and a DC-DC converter.
These new elements have all been designed for easy integration, avoiding the necessity for complicated changes to the powertrain format.
One other key consideration was to make sure the system can face up to the form of harsh working situations the Hilux is more likely to encounter. As an example, new elements, together with the motor-generator, are positioned excessive sufficient on the engine to take care of the automobile’s 700 mm wading functionality.
The electrical motor-generator – a everlasting magnet synchronous unit – is pushed by the engine and in flip expenses the lithium-ion hybrid battery. It offers a number of advantages that make driving simpler, smoother and quieter in all situations – each on-road and off.
Its compact dimensions helped make the hybrid system straightforward to combine with Hilux’s current powertrain.
Its advantages embody a regenerative braking operate, recovering power produced each time the driving force comes off the throttle. Mixed with engine braking, this protects gasoline, makes driving simpler and provides natural-feeling deceleration.
In on-road driving, acceleration when beginning off and deceleration are smoother, extra linear and extra natural-feeling, contributing to a extra composed and cozy experience.
When masking rougher, off-road surfaces, the motor generator enhances the Hilux’s potential to beat obstacles. Controllability at low speeds is additional helped by a 20% discount within the engine’s idling pace, from 720 rpm to 600 rpm.
The facility help supplied by the electrical motor-generator additionally reduces the engine load in low-efficiency working, contributing to as much as a 5% enchancment in gasoline consumption and CO2 emissions, in comparison with the two.8-litre diesel Hilux with out the Hybrid 48V system.
The motor-generator’s working standing is indicated within the driver’s multi-information show with a read-out displaying CHG (power regeneration), ECO and PWR (offering help in each instances).
Smoother, faster, quieter stop-start efficiency
The stop-start system delivers a extra comfy drive in visitors, with the 48V Hybrid system enabling faster and quieter restart response.
The electrical motor-generator operates rather than a traditional starter motor and is at all times related which suggests restart is enabled even at excessive engine speeds and there’s much less delay in quick restarts after stopping.
Auto-stopping is supplied in heavy visitors, or at instances when the driving force by chance restarts the engine by lowering their strain on the brake pedal.
The motive force can set their desire for cease and begin efficiency, choosing NORMAL or LONG within the automobile’s multi-information show. When selecting LONG, the engine’s idling cease time when the air-con is working is elevated.
When the Hilux is on an uphill gradient, a slight delay may happen between engine restart and the era of drive torque. As an auxiliary operate, the cease and begin system will preserve brake strain till the mandatory drive torque is generated, to help clean start-off efficiency. Additionally, on degree surfaces, any extra drive torque from the engine pace racing on restart is offset.
Injection quantity management has been optimised to help the system’s responsiveness, balanced in opposition to the extent of shock skilled throughout acceleration.
Lithium-ion hybrid battery
The 48V lithium-ion hybrid battery has 13 cells and a 4.3 Ah capability. It weighs simply 7.6 kg and, because of the usage of small inner elements, is sufficiently compact to be housed beneath the Hilux’s rear seats, with minimal impression on cabin house.
When totally charged, the battery can provide as much as an extra 12 kW of energy and 65 Nm of torque to the powertrain at start-off.
Each the hybrid battery and the low-profile DC-DC converter are protected in opposition to water ingress, cooling air is drawn into the battery from the entrance of the automobile, with a decrease temperature than the cabin air. A filter helps forestall the build-up of mud within the battery’s cooling paths and fan, which helps forestall deterioration of battery efficiency from excessive temperatures.
Two-arm belt-tensioner
A two-arm tensioner offers the belt rigidity required by the electrical motor-generator. The primary of its form for use in a Toyota, it has been designed particularly to be used in diesel engine autos and to fulfill the calls for of rough-road driving. It offers the extent of belt rigidity the motor-generator requires, plus a restart help operate.
It additionally helps safe improved acceleration response and its noise and vibration efficiency is on par with gasoline engine passenger autos.
The belt’s materials composition is vital to its efficiency. A high-strength cotton material layer on the ribbed facet of the belt reduces noise, absorbs water and maintains its friction coefficient when moist. This helps obtain constant efficiency in difficult situations, for instance when driving via water. Not solely can the Hilux 48V wade via water 700 mm deep, it may be stopped at this depth for as much as 10 minutes.
A high-strength aramid wire is used on the core of the belt, enhancing reliability when rigidity will increase are skilled when the motor-generator begins the engine or the will increase the extent of energy era.
Stoppers within the tensioner arms cut back irregular noise and vibration brought on by the arms hanging the housing when switching to motor-generator mode. Bushes within the damping mechanism are designed to assist forestall international our bodies coming into the sliding elements, similar to mud and grit in tough highway driving.
2.8-litre turbodiesel engine
The Hilux’s engine, a DOHC 16-valve unit, generates a most 204 DIN hp (150 kW) at 3,400 rpm and a muscular 500 Nm of torque between 1,600 and a couple of,800 rpm. It options frequent rail gasoline injection, a variable nozzle turbocharger and a water-cooled intercooler. Exhaust emission management options embody a particulate filter, Selective Catalytic Discount and extra urea injection. In frequent with different Hilux fashions, the Hybrid 48V is suitable with HVO100 diesel, a non-fossil gasoline made out of 100% renewable sources.
New Multi-Terrain Choose (MTS)
The Toyota Hilux Hybrid 48V is the primary Hilux to characteristic the Multi-Terrain Choose system, operated utilizing the MTS swap and mode selector on the centre console. This adjusts the automobile’s drive management techniques – drive drive, suspension and hydraulic brake strain – to reinforce traction, manoeuvrability and stability in numerous driving situations.
There are six settings: Sand, Mud, Rock, Grime, Deep Snow and Auto. In Auto mode, sensors across the automobile repeatedly assess the highway situations and robotically apply the suitable management settings. Sand, Mud, Rock and Auto could be engaged when the Hilux is in (low) L4 working; Grime, Sand, Mud, Deep Snow and Auto can be utilized within the H4 transmission vary.
AUTO MODE: offers ground-covering efficiency with out the driving force having change the mode in response to the highway and driving situations.DIRT MODE: when driving on unpaved roads, automobile pace and stability are the identical as on paved surfaces. The system offers appropriate tyre-ground contact really feel on undulating or uneven highway surfaces and appropriate driving drive, even when towing.SAND MODE: in H4 vary, this mode prevents supply of extreme drive drive, to keep away from the automobile turning into caught, whereas nonetheless offering sufficient drive for cruising. In L4 vary, increased driving drive is supplied ought to the automobile grow to be caught, or the sandy floor provides a excessive degree of resistance.MUD MODE: on this mode the wheels spin to assist progress on muddy roads with very low grip ranges. Larger driving drive is supplied in L4 vary when the mud is deep sufficient to cowl the tyres.DEEP SNOW MODE: this mode can be utilized when making ahead and reverse actions to sort out excessive snow bumps. When the snow is deep sufficient to cowl the tyres, the system spins the wheels to create a snowplough impact. Reasonable drive drive is supplied when beginning off to stop wheel spin. NB: this mode will not be meant to be used when driving on packed snow highway surfaces.ROCK MODE: this mode is appropriate for driving over harsh, rocky terrain, suppressing tyre slippage. Ought to solely two tyres keep up a correspondence with the bottom, the system will transmit drive drive to the opposite two wheels whereas concurrently controlling automobile pace.
The Hilux’s digital multi-information show encompasses a completely different background for every mode. In Sand, Mud and Deep Snow modes in H4 and in all L4 modes, the VSC OFF indicator is illuminated; in all modes, the slip indicator gentle will flash on and off when brake management is being utilized.
A powerful, secure experience
The brand new Toyota Hilux Hybrid 48V has loads of avenue presence, measuring 5,325 mm lengthy, as much as 1,900 mm large and 1,865 mm excessive. It is a sensible pick-up, the double cab format matched to a 1,555 mm lengthy mattress. The gentle hybrid system by no means diminishes the load-carrying functionality: payload is as much as 1,000 kg and towing capability is 3,500 kg.
Toyota Hilux Hybrid 48V has a body-on-frame structure and ladder body chassis that are key to its energy, sturdiness and torsional rigidity. The rear suspension’s hard-wearing leaf springs and twin shock absorbers present sure-footed off-road efficiency and SUV-like on-road consolation and dealing with. It is “go-anywhere” credentials are help by a working floor clearance of 310 mm and strategy and departure angles at 29 and 26 levels respectively.
Superior security provisions
The Hilux Hybrid 48V is supplied with Toyota Security Sense expertise to offer occupants and different highway customers with world-class safety from many frequent accident dangers.
An enhanced Pre-Collision System (PCS) can higher detect pedestrians at night time, bicyclists throughout daytime, and oncoming autos or pedestrians at intersections when making turns. When such hazards are detected, the system points audible and visible alerts earlier than making use of braking drive if required.
Adaptive Cruise Management (ACC) with Highway Signal Help (RSA) permits the driving force to shortly alter the pace according to adjustments within the restrict. The ACC also can robotically sluggish the automobile to make sure an applicable pace via freeway bends.
When driving at night time, the Automated Excessive Beam (AHB) operate eliminates the necessity to swap headlight ranges to keep away from dazzling different drivers. It detects approaching autos and immediately and exactly adjusts the lights, so excessive beam use is maximised.
Multimedia and connectivity
The excessive tools specification consists of the eight-inch Toyota Sensible Join multimedia system and a nine-speaker JBL premium audio bundle.
Toyota Sensible Join provides the driving force entry to cloud-based navigation with environment friendly journey planning helped by up-to-the-minute visitors intelligence. The system additionally features a voice agent for hands-free operation of cell phone calls and audio capabilities. Smartphone integration is supplied wirelessly through each Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto®.
Additional comfort is supplied by the MyToyota smartphone app. This can be utilized to function sure automobile capabilities remotely – door locking/unlocking and use of the air-con system to heat or cool the cabin forward of a journey. The app additionally offers automobile knowledge and can be utilized for servicing scheduling and reminders.
