Toyota Prado hybrid under consideration for Australia

Toyota has confirmed it is studying a hybrid powertrain for the next-technology Land Cruiser Prado as buyer making an strive out of the contemporary Tundra gets underway, offering Aussies their taste of the emblem’s hybrid programs in a gradual-weight-industrial application.

Speaking with Chasing Cars following the open of the gross sales outcomes for 2023, Toyota Australia vp of gross sales, marketing and franchise operations Sean Hanley talked about hybrids had been being severely knowing to be for its more heavy-duty vehicles.

“We don’t have any announcements relating to hybrid Prado but it surely’s surely something we’re taking a examine. We’re studying that engine and its ability in the US to search out out what its suitability would possibly be for this market,” he talked about.

“There’s surely that one day, we’ll have to glance at that technology.”

Tundra builds self belief for Prado hybrid’s hopes in Australia

Toyota The United States became once the first market of the global designate to open a hybrid system in its light industrial vehicles, initiating with the Tundra plump-measurement decide-up – which is currently now on path to be introduced to Australia, armed completely with this petrol-electric drivetrain, likely sometime next yr.

The Tundra makes exhaust of a 326kW/790Nm 3.5-litre twin-turbo-petrol V6, mated to an electric motor, though a much less highly efficient 243kW/630Nm setup became once previewed final yr for the contemporary midsize Tacoma ute featuring a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine as its foundation.

Requested if Toyota Australia’s expertise making an strive out the hybrid-powered Tundra on native soil gave self belief that a hybrid-powered Prado would work in Australia, Mr Hanley talked about “it surely has”.

“We’ve most frequently talked about that a hybrid would possibly work, in particular in these heavy vehicles. It’s functional and you’ve obtained no fluctuate alarm,” he talked about.

“We’re dedicated to offering some make of electrification all the design in which thru all Toyota models by 2030 and that entails industrial vehicles”

The 2.4-litre-based I-Force Max system is deliberate for introduction globally in the Lexus GX, the Prado’s more luxurious sibling, sooner than it’s expected to make its technique to the next-technology Toyota mannequin.

With an increasing number of stringent emissions requirements being rolled out in key markets equivalent to Europe, and Australian government policy no longer too a ways at the assist of, hybrid engines are an increasing number of being viewed by the alternate as a viable replacement for heavy-emitting diesel engines.

Importantly, these hybrid programs are able to towing as much as 4.5-tonnes in the Australian-spec Tundra, and will likely reinforce the contemporary-gen Prado’s expected 3.5-tonne towing ability in plump.

New Prado’s Australian open date restful deliberate for mid-2024

The Prado will open in mid-2024 motivated completely by the tried-and-tested 1GD-FTV 2.8-litre turbo-diesel, producing the an identical 150kW of energy and 500Nm of torque as the most modern mannequin.

It differs, nonetheless, by offering a forty eight-volt system – which is willing to debut on this engine with the Hilux ute later this yr – and is predicted to ease gasoline consumption in city areas.

Toyota has been vocal in regards to the truth it does no longer classify this forty eight-volt assistance as a hybrid system, and even snug-hybrid, but it surely does mark a principal first step.

Though the open date is restful a ways off, Toyota has wired that it totally desires to open when it has ample offer, with buyer query expected to be solid.