Powering the future
In a recent roundtable with media, Toyota South Africa confirmed that along with a host of other exciting and interesting new developments, hybrid versions of the popular Hilux and Fortuner would be arriving in South Africa.
Related: Toyota introduces trio of hybrids to SA
Along with a host of new models such as the lauded Crown luxury sedan and the all-electric BZ4X which AutoTrader drove in Copenhagen last year, Toyota plans to launch a new mild hybrid Hilux and Fortuner in early 2024. The mild hybrid consists of the standard internal combustion engine combined with an integrated starter generator and 12or 48V battery.
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Hybrid drive solution
Toyota South Africa has echoed the sentiments of its parent Toyota Global, that committing to a non-negotiable cutoff of production of internal combustion engines does not make sense for many of the markets in which they operate. There are a number of other options that Toyota has chosen to explore such as hydrogen and hybrid drive layouts. The way vehicles are utilized in South Africa does not currently support a full electric strategy as yet and the current crop of hybrid offerings that Toyota has on sale in SA have done incredibly well thus far with further development down this path being pursued.
Plug-in hybrids, are the ideal solution for South Africa’s unique circumstances they are the way to go for South Africa as they bring the best of both worlds which is being able to use them as BEVs (battery electric) during your weekly commutes and long-distance vehicles over the weekend. Leon Theron, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, TSAM
At the State of the Motoring Industry event earlier this year, Toyota SA unveiled a number of exciting new models that are set to arrive but at the time there was no mention of hybrid versions of the brand's two best-selling large vehicles from their stable. This news is sure to get many a cash-strapped consumer excited as the interest in hybrid vehicles that help to reduce the ever-increasing fuel bill, is at an all-time high, with many of the current hybrid offerings sitting with waiting lists.
With many of these plans still ongoing, there is scant information available about actual drive trains or pricing as yet, but you can be sure that as soon as any of this becomes available, AutoTrader SA will be there to bring you all the details. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter or follow our social media to keep up to date with all the happenings in the local automotive scene.
