With new faces in top 6
Toyota thoroughly polishes its commercial vehicle range
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Toyota wants to expand its position in the European commercial vehicle market and become one of the top 6 commercial vehicle manufacturers in Europe. The Japanese car manufacturer is now cleaning up its model range – and expanding it in important areas.
Toyota is modernizing its commercial vehicle program. The Proace family is receiving an addition and a facelift, the Hilux pick-up has a mild hybrid drive. And a hydrogen variant of the flatbed truck could also come.
The Proace Max is completely new to the brand’s commercial customer offering. Like its smaller siblings Proace and Procae City, the van in the 3.5-tonne class comes from the cooperation with Stellantis and is therefore largely identical in construction to the Fiat Ducato, Opel Movano, Peugeot Boxer and Citroen Jumper.
The Proace Max competes in the 3.5-ton class.
(Photo: Toyota)
The Toyota is offered as a panel van, station wagon, chassis, tipper or flatbed. Diesel engines in the power range from 88 kW/120 HP to 121 kW/161 HP provide propulsion. There is also a 200 kW/270 hp electric variant available. It has a standard range of 420 kilometers and offers the same loading volume as the conventional version at 17 cubic meters. At 1.5 tonnes, the payload is 75 kilograms higher than that of a diesel. The market launch of the Proace Max is planned for autumn 2024.
Battery-electric variants travel further than before
The refreshed Proace and Proace City models will be launched in spring. Like their respective Stellantis Group siblings, the medium-sized and compact vans receive, among other things, a modified front with chrome or silver-colored trim on the radiator grille. Inside there is a new infotainment system.
There are also innovations in the Hilux pick-up.
(Photo: Toyota)
The battery-electric variants also travel further than before. The larger Proace Electric has a range of up to 350 kilometers in combination with the 75 kWh battery, an increase of 20 kilometers. The smaller Proace City Electric can travel up to 330 kilometers per battery charge, which is 50 kilometers further than before. The cargo space volume is at the same level as the combustion engine variants, while the payload can be 110 (Proace) to 220 kilos (Proace City) less.
New to the Hilux pick-up is a 48-volt variant, which will be offered alongside the well-known diesel models from next year. The basis of the mild hybrid drive is the 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel with 150 kW/204 hp, which is said to be around 10 percent more economical thanks to the electrical support.
Fuel cell version being tested
In addition, Toyota developers in England are currently testing a fuel cell version of the commercial vehicle, which will travel a good 600 kilometers using 7.8 kilograms of hydrogen gas. However, one of the tanks has to be placed on the loading area, which limits its practicality. If the drive still proves successful, series production is conceivable, at least in smaller quantities.
All model measures together are intended to help Toyota become one of the top 6 commercial vehicle manufacturers in Europe. Last year, the Japanese professional division on the continent had around 119,000 new registrations, in 2023 there should be 140,000 and in 2025 around 180,000.
