Toyota has demonstrated the toughness of its new electric Hilux by dropping a caravan onto it from 30 feet in the air.
While most manufacturers demonstrate a new electric vehicle with glossy footage of silent city streets and gently turning wind turbines, Toyota decided its battery-powered pickup needed something heavy falling on its roof.
The stunt took place at Bentwaters airfield in Suffolk and was inspired by Top Gear’s famously unsuccessful attempts to destroy an older Hilux more than 20 years ago.
Those trials included driving the pickup into a tree, submerging it in the sea and placing it on top of a 23-storey tower block before the building was demolished. Dropping a caravan onto the cab was another indignity it endured.
Reddit chooses the Hilux’s fate
Toyota didn’t decide how to test the latest Hilux entirely on its own. Instead, it handed the decision to Reddit users, who were offered a choice between repeatedly hitting the electric pickup with a one-tonne wrecking ball or dropping a caravan onto it.
Hundreds voted, with the caravan emerging as the clear favourite. This perhaps demonstrates why the Reddit users should never be given control of cranes or heavy construction equipment.
The chosen caravan was hoisted 30 feet above the Hilux before being released directly over its cab. Once the resulting cloud of dust and debris had cleared, engineers inspected the pickup and found what Toyota describes as “modest bodywork scars”.
More importantly, the electric Hilux powered up immediately and drove away under its own power. The caravan was less fortunate.
It was, of course, a carefully managed publicity stunt rather than a formal durability test. However, Toyota says the battery-electric Hilux has undergone more conventional development work covering rough terrain, deep water and complete battery immersion.
Special protection has also been incorporated around the battery to reduce the risk of damage during demanding off-road use.
“Dropping a caravan on it wasn’t just about repeating the famous TV stunt,” said Chris Hayes, Toyota GB’s director of products and services. “It was our way of showing how Hilux’s core toughness remains intact.”
The ninth-generation Hilux was revealed earlier this year with a choice of battery-electric and diesel 48V powertrains.
Toyota has now handed the keys to the surviving electric Hilux to the Top Gear YouTube team for further punishment. They should check the small print on the handover form first.
