Toyota UK drops caravan on electric Hilux to test integrity

Toyota UK dropped a 760 kg caravan from a crane onto the roof of a ninth-generation battery-electric Hilux pickup truck to test its structural integrity, recreating a famous television durability stunt from 23 years ago. The demonstration took place at Bentwaters Airfield in Suffolk, where the caravan was suspended roughly 9 meters, or 30 feet, above the electric vehicle before being released directly onto its cab.

Stunt Execution and Vehicle Damage at Bentwaters Airfield

During the drop, the caravan struck the roof of the Hilux BEV, leaving visible deformation on the cab roof alongside a broken front windshield. The pillars largely maintained their structural shape, although some deformation also appeared in the load bed. Following the impact, the electric pickup truck drove away under its own power without experiencing any major mechanical issues.

Carmag reported that the stunt was staged by Toyota Great Britain to demonstrate that the new electric model shares the toughness of its internal-combustion predecessors. Following on from our launch of the ninth-generation model earlier this year, we wanted to honour that legacy and demonstrate how Hilux is still as impressive as it was decades ago, even when it’s powered by electricity, said Chris Hayes, Director of Products and Service Division at Toyota Great Britain, as quoted by Carmag. Hayes added that dropping the caravan served to show how the vehicle core toughness remains intact.

Powertrain and Performance Specifications of the Hilux BEV

Carmag reported that the ninth-generation Hilux BEV utilizes a dual electric-motor powertrain with motors positioned fore and aft, generating a combined output of 144 kW. Energy is stored in a 59.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, delivering a claimed operating range of approximately 240 km. The electric variant measures 5,320 mm in length and 1,855 mm in width, making it slightly narrower than its internal-combustion counterpart while sharing an identical 3,085 mm wheelbase. The vehicle payload is rated at approximately 715 kg, with a braked towing capacity of 1,600 kg.

Origins of the Unkillable Hilux Legacy

The modern drop test references a series of durability trials performed on a rusted 1980s Hilux diesel truck by Jeremy Clarkson on BBC Two program Top Gear more than two decades ago. The original television segments subjected the truck to steep stairways, brick walls, tree crashes, harbor tides, and a controlled building demolition. Carmag added that the original sequence also included submerging a truck in the ocean and hitting a single-cab example with a wrecking ball before the vehicle successfully started with basic tools.

Toyota selected the caravan drop after asking Reddit users to suggest how the new generation should be tested, with a 1,000 kg wrecking ball impact serving as the alternative proposal considered by the manufacturer.