Toyota conducted a test to verify the robustness of the electric Hilux, replicating one of the most notorious sequences from the Top Gear program. This new challenge occurs almost 23 years after a diesel Hilux from the 1980s was subjected to extreme conditions in the show.
The original episode, broadcast on BBC 2 on November 23, 2003, featured Jeremy Clarkson facing an old diesel Hilux. At that time, the pickup went through a series of increasingly severe tests, including driving through a tree, a building, crossing the sea, and even colliding with a demolition ball. Furthermore, the vehicle was set on fire and later had a trailer dropped onto it, but the old Toyota managed to remain operational despite the damage.
To define the new test, Toyota consulted Reddit users. The options presented were a 1-ton demolition ball or a trailer drop, with the latter being the option chosen by participants.
The simulation was conducted at Bentwaters airfield, located in Suffolk. A 760 kg trailer was lifted to about 9 meters high and released directly onto the cabin of the electric Hilux. After the impact, engineers removed the debris and proceeded to assess the pickup. According to Toyota, the body sustained only minor damage, and the electrical system was immediately reconnected, allowing the vehicle to leave the site operating normally.
This test also served to demonstrate the advancement in the protection of the electric Hilux's battery. The manufacturer stated that the unit was exposed to scenarios such as deep water driving, difficult terrain, and total immersion. The unit used in this experiment was subsequently given to the Top Gear channel, which is expected to apply new challenges to it.
The Hilux is in its ninth generation and remains available with diesel and, in some markets, gasoline engines. There are also more basic models equipped with steel wheels and manual transmission. Additionally, Toyota is developing a version that uses a hydrogen fuel cell.
The manufacturer emphasized that the test was carried out by professionals in a controlled area and does not reflect a situation covered in the vehicle's manual. The remnants of the trailer were collected afterward for recycling purposes.