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Ranger's nightmare has arrived: Toyota's new pickup, the Hilux MHEV, is more powerful and offers up to 10% greater fuel efficiency!
Australia, like Brazil, is among the main global markets for medium-duty pickup trucks. Toyota has introduced a new mild hybrid setup (MHEV) 48V for the Hilux, accompanied by a visual update to the model. The novelty is scheduled to reach the Brazilian market in 2025.
The version of its medium pickup that incorporates the MildHybrid system, or “light hybrid”, as the Japanese company describes it, currently imported from Thailand, will also be manufactured in Argentina soon, according to information from the Motor1.com.
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What is a mild hybrid?
Identified by the acronym MHEV, which stands for Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle, the mild hybrid is one of three types of hybrid cars, alongside the HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and the PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle). Among these, MHEV offers the least heat engine support.
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This system can operate with 12V or 48V, depending on the manufacturer, but its operation is essentially the same. A small electric motor takes over the functions of the alternator and starter motor, feeding the 12V battery and helping when starting off or when driving at cruising speeds, although only for short periods.
Although MHEV offers limited help and causes only a small reduction in fuel consumption, it contributes to reducing pollutant emissions. Furthermore, a significant advantage of this system is its simplicity compared to HEV or PHEV, which makes its implementation easier and cheaper.
In other words, in a more simplistic way, the MildHybrid system, typical in mild hybrid vehicles, does not allow the car to operate exclusively in electric mode. The main function of this system is to supply energy to the car's electrical systems when the combustion engine is inactive or when the Start&Stop feature is used, such as when stopping at traffic lights or in traffic jams. The 48V battery is recharged using an alternator and the regenerative system, which captures the kinetic energy generated during braking.
New Hilux MHEV features a 2.8 hp 204 turbodiesel engine, a 48V battery and up to 10% higher fuel efficiency
Equipped with a 2.8 hp 204 turbodiesel engine, the Hilux MHEV has a 48V battery and a DC/AC converter, which transforms direct current into alternating current and vice versa. This system is integrated into the pickup's well-known 2.8 turbodiesel engine, which is popular in the Brazilian market and delivers 204 hp of power and 50,9 kgfm of torque, always coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission.
In Europe, where the mild hybrid system is already used, the Hilux 48V recorded an increase of 16 hp in power and 6,6 kgfm in torque, reaching 220 hp and 57,5 kgfm. Toyota highlighted that the Hilux MHEV offers up to 10% greater fuel efficiency and improved performance, which reinforces the vehicle's already remarkable capabilities on both paved roads and rough terrain.
According to the company, this pickup truck guarantees a more agile response on asphalt and more robust performance on off-road terrain, benefiting from smoother acceleration and regenerative braking on slopes.
Even with the incorporation of the mild hybrid system, the pickup maintained its ability to immerse itself in water up to 70 centimeters.
Presented in November last year, Toyota ensured that the truck's off-road capabilities remain unchanged, as do its towing and cargo capacities. A positive aspect is that, even with the incorporation of the mild hybrid system, the pickup maintained its ability to immerse itself in water up to 70 centimeters.
Toyota also highlights that the improvements in drivability were achieved without compromising the vehicle's towing and load capacity, which remain exceptional at 3.500 and 1.000 kg, respectively.
In addition to the implementation of the MHEV system, the Toyota Hilux in Australia has received significant visual upgrades. The bumper has been redesigned, now featuring an octagonal grille flanked by new air intakes and an aluminum lower protection. While the rest of the bodywork maintains the design of the previous version of the Hilux, the rear door has been improved with shock absorbers that make it easier to open.
The new version of the Hilux 48V with an updated front in Brazil are considerably taller!
To date, Toyota has displayed the Hilux MHEV only as a prototype, being used as a safety vehicle in the Kenya Safari Rally. This MildHybrid version is part of Toyota's strategy to launch nine new pickup trucks, some of which are already confirmed for production in Argentina, where the Hilux is currently manufactured.
It is important to highlight that the Hilux available in Australia is imported from Thailand, which often serves as a reference point for Toyota's South American branch in the development of new products. Therefore, the chances of seeing this new version of the Hilux 48V with an updated front end in Brazil are considerably high.
At the same time, in Argentina, the city of Rio Grande revoked the tax exemption for hybrid, electric and light-hybrid vehicles in November last year. The municipal council justified the decision by the fact that MildHybrid systems do not operate in an exclusively electrical mode, and after an extensive period of evaluation, it was considered necessary to adjust current legislation.
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