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Toyota confirmed off an electrical Ford Maverick-sized truck idea on the Japan Mobility Present this week. Is the Toyota EPU, or Electrical PickUp, the midsize electrical pickup we’ve been ready for?
For over three years, Toyota has been “secretly” growing the midsize EPU electrical truck. Toyota constructed the mannequin as an in-house design research, and executives “preferred it sufficient that they wished to place it within the Tokyo Present,” in keeping with Kevin Hunter.
Hunter is president of Toyota’s design analysis middle in California. He advised Automotive Information on the occasion that the corporate wished to make sure the idea didn’t “appear like a toy.”
Hunter stated Toyota wished it to “appear like a sturdy product.” He added the idea is “succesful,” regardless of no point out of powertrain or battery specs.
Though different ideas just like the Land Cruiser Se stole the present, Toyota’s EPU may discover a market as an electrical different to Ford’s in style Maverick in North America.
Toyota EPU is 200 inches lengthy, 75 inches broad, and 67 inches tall, practically similar to Ford’s Maverick (200” L, 72” W, 69” H). Just like the Maverick, the EV encompasses a low middle of gravity to enhance dealing with.
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Will Toyota tackle Ford’s Maverick with the EPU?
The rugged fashion is nearly harking back to Ram’s first EV, the 1500 REV. It consists of an additional deep 4.5-foot lengthy mattress that may prolong to six ft with an progressive tailgate design.
For extra house, the second-row seating and entrance of the mattress will be folded ahead to supply as much as 8 ft of hauling house.
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![Toyota-EPU-Maverick](https://i2.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Toyota-EPU-Maverick-3.jpg?ssl=1)
Like Ram’s idea, the EPU features a passthrough beneath the middle console to haul lengthy gadgets (like lumber) as much as 12 ft lengthy.
Hunter stated, based mostly on the response from occasion attendees, “it’s a unique type of purchaser” than the Tacoma. Nevertheless, he added, “It’s simply tremendous, tremendous practical, and it’s not meant to overlap [the Tacoma] in any respect.” It’s designed for these searching for the utility of a pickup with out the intense off-road options.
![Toyota-EPU-Maverick](https://i1.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Toyota-EPU-Maverick-7.jpg?ssl=1)
![Toyota-EPU-Maverick](https://i1.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Toyota-EPU-Maverick-8.jpg?ssl=1)
Electrek’s Take
Though the Toyota EPU may present a viable electrical different to the Ford Maverick, the idea will seemingly by no means see the sunshine of day. And if it does, it might be a number of years earlier than we see it hit the market.
Toyota has been teasing electrical ideas for years that might make sense to enter manufacturing however have had little to no point out since.
It’s extra seemingly in that time-frame that Ford will introduce its personal electrical Maverick. Nevertheless, Ford can be pushing again round $12 billion in EV manufacturing investments.
Maybe we’ll hope for Rivian’s second-gen fashions to fill the hole. Rivian’s R2 EVs are anticipated to start out round $40,000, with manufacturing slated for 2026.
Though Toyota’s North American management is pulling for the mannequin, it has but to be accredited by Toyota in Japan. An govt from Toyota North America advised Automotive Information that there have been nonetheless a number of points that wanted to be labored out, together with value. The manager stated, “We’re preventing for it.”
In the meantime, Toyota’s first electrical truck prototype to hit the streets, the HiLux BEV, was put by the paces in Australia earlier this month as a part of growth.
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