Deliveries of the Ford Ranger PHEV are currently underway in places like Europe and Australia, where the electrified mid-size pickup is expected to garner its fair share of fans – as well as replace one diesel-powered model in the lineup. As Ford Authority previously reported, the Ford Ranger PHEV won’t be sold in North America – at least, not in the foreseeable future – but it does certainly have its fair share of rivals in other parts of the world, such as the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. As for the Ranger’s chief rival in Australia – the Toyota Hilux – it now seems like that pickup might be getting a plug-in hybrid powertrain of its own, too.
According to Drive, the Japanese publication Best Car recently revealed that the next-generation Toyota Hilux will reportedly include a plug-in hybrid variant. It’s unclear when the PHEV might join the lineup, but as of now, the heavily-updated Hilux is slated to launch next spring. The report indicates that the Hilux PHEV will join the lineup later on in its lifecycle, however, but it would be a big move for Toyota in general, as its ever-popular mid-size pickup has only been offered with a mild hybrid system when it comes to electrification.
Otherwise, reports indicate that the next-generation Toyota Hilux will ride on the same GA-F body-on-frame platform as the Prado and Land Cruiser, and will feature heavily revised exterior styling – particularly at the front and rear ends. The report adds that “there is a possibility” that pure EV and hydrogen fuel-cell variants of the Hilux “may be added,” but we know for sure that Toyota plans on offering some sort of electrified powertrain across its entire lineup by 2030, regardless.
Details pertaining to the potential Toyota Hilux PHEV remain scant otherwise, including what sort of gas engine it might use, nor the size of battery it would be paired with. The Ford Ranger PHEV utilizes an 11.8 kWh lithium-ion battery, which gives it an all-electric driving range of around 30 miles. Coupled with a slightly detuned version of the turbocharged 2.3L I-4 EcoBoost gas engine, that gives the plug-in hybrid pickup a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms (7,716 pounds) – which matches the Alpha and bests the Shark – and its max payload capacity beats both, too.
It will feature a full timeline of the van's lifecycle.
Providing loads of torque for the sporty pickup.
Not terribly surprising, given its past performance.
The two companies have pooled resources on numerous occasions.
It remained with the original owner until earlier this year.
It's one of several new carbon parts for the pony car.
