Fresh details on the new Toyota Hilux Hybrid 48V – which is set to be built in South Africa – have been released. Here’s a look at the powertrain’s basic specifications, including how much extra oomph is on offer…

Toyota in Europe has released additional information – including initial powertrain details – on the upcoming mild-hybrid Hilux, which is expected to be produced at Prospecton here in South Africa, with a local launch likely at some point in 2024.

Interestingly, the electrified bakkie will be marketed as the “Toyota Hilux Hybrid 48V” on the Old Continent (where it will launch in mid-2024), while the Japanese firm’s Australian division has already confirmed it has no plans to slap the hybrid badge on this derivative.

So, what do we know about the electrified Hilux? Well, in Europe, the mild-hybrid option will be offered only in conjunction with the double-cab body style. The widely used 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine (known internally as the GD-6) gains 48V technology, though seemingly only in conjunction with the 6-speed automatic transmission.

The oil-burning engine drives a compact motor generator using a belt system, which in turn charges the lithium battery installed under the rear seats (it is positioned here to “minimise” impact on cabin space, says the automaker). According to Toyota, the 48V battery weighs 7.6 kg and also supplies the vehicle’s 12V system via a new DC-DC converter. The battery is charged during deceleration, effectively regenerating braking energy which would otherwise be lost, while also ostensibly adding braking performance.

When fully charged, the 48V battery is able to deliver up to 12 kW and 65 Nm through the motor generator to the engine, to “enhance acceleration, power and efficiency”, according to the Japanese firm’s European division. Of course, this is in addition to the 4-pot’s standard outputs of 150 kW and 500 Nm. Should these hybrid outputs be available alongside the peak figures of the turbodiesel engine (which Toyota has not confirmed), total system outputs would theoretically stand at 162 kW and 565 Nm.

Toyota says the hybrid components come with no compromise to towing and payload capacities, which remain listed as 3 500 kg and 1 000 kg, respectively (though no kerb-weight figure has yet been shared). In addition, the company claims the Hilux Hybrid 48V is capable of driving through water “up to 700 mm deep” thanks to “waterproofing of the 48V battery and DC-DC converter”, while new “anti-slip and strengthening measures” on the motor generator pulley and belt ensure optimum performance, even when wet.

According to Toyota, the hybrid gubbins deliver “better throttle response and linear acceleration”, particularly from a standstill, while the bakkie also comes with an “enhanced” stop-start system to allow the engine to remain off for longer periods (and deliver a quieter engine restart). An official fuel consumption figure has yet to be released.

Off the beaten path, Toyota claims the Hilux Hybrid 48V’s motor generator power serves up “smoother acceleration when negotiating rough terrain”, while the regenerative braking “supports safer downhill manoeuvring”.

In addition, the updated multi-terrain select system now gives the driver the option of adjusting vehicle stability control (VSC) settings according to the specific driving conditions (using an automatic mode or 1 of 5 pre-set options: dirt, sand, mud, deep snow or rock).

We expect this lightly electrified version of the Hilux (alongside a Fortuner with the same powertrain) to hit the market in South Africa at some point in 2024, after Toyota SA Motors announced such plans in May 2023. Whether Toyota SA Motors will use a “Hybrid 48V” or “MHEV” badges – or whether it will opt for a different moniker altogether – remains to be seen.

Related content

Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series: new SA line-up revealed!

10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa: November 2023

New Toyota Hilux Champ: engine details drop