A coding-exempt pickup? Maybe, maybe not?

Toyota plans to build a "mild-hybrid" version of the Toyota Hilux by adding a 48-volt system to the pickup truck. A report from Toyota Australia has confirmed that the GD mild-hybrid system is a go and that the Hilux will be the first to get the new mild-hybrid assist feature in 2024.

For those who don’t know, the Philippine version of the Toyota Hilux is equipped with the 2.8-liter 1GD-FTV turbo diesel engine. The hybrid version of this engine will reportedly get a dedicated 48V system with a battery and a small electric motor generator.

Toyota says that the GD engine will have approximately a 10% improvement in fuel efficiency due to the automatic stop/start system while also improving driveability and reducing NVH.

According to reports, Toyota Australia will not give the pickup truck nameplate hybrid badging but will call it the “Hilux with 48-volt technology.” The decision to drop the “hybrid” moniker may have been made to differentiate the pickup truck from the brand’s other vehicles with a more dedicated hybrid system. 

Toyota Australia will first introduce the “Hilux with 48-volt technology” as standard to its SR5 Rouge Double Cab 4x4 trim and then to its SR Double Cab 4x4 variants. 

The Japanese automaker has yet to confirm if this new 48V mild-hybrid system will be coming to the Toyota Fortuner. However, since it will soon be available in the Hilux, the SUV might soon get it as part of another update or facelift. 

If the mild-hybrid Hilux proves to be a success in Australia, we could soon see the new technology make its way into other markets, such as the ASEAN region, which has a strong demand for pickup trucks.

What do you think of the mid-hybrid Hilux?

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