New Toyota EPU concept is an old-school pick-up with modern electric power

Tokyo concept car previews a next-generation electric pick-up, which will be smaller but more practical than diesel Hilux

Toyota has unveiled the EPU “mid-size pick-up” concept ahead of its Tokyo Motor Show reveal later this week. Sitting alongside the reimagined Toyota Land Cruiser Se, the EPU shows the brand’s vision for a future zero-emission pick-up truck.

Measuring 5,070mm long, the EPU is 255mm shorter than the existing Toyota Hilux. The concept’s 3,350mm wheelbase is 265mm longer, however. This is evident in the show shots that Toyota has issued: as well as typical pick-up styling cues such as a raised ride height and extensive cladding, the EPU gets visibly short front and rear overhangs.

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This should make the truck roomier inside. So far we’ve only been given a glance at the car’s dashboard, which features an unusual dual-screen layout and a yoke-style steering wheel that could polarise opinions. There is a big shelf ahead of the passenger seat, and what looks like an almost-entirely flat floor – emphasising that feeling of space.

Toyota says the “rear of the cabin links boldly with the deck to accommodate diverse user preferences, supporting a wide range of mobility lifestyles, including outdoor activities.” From the images, we can see this includes accessories such as a rack for boats or surfboards, although no further details have been given at this time. It looks like the EPU will also get an innovative tailgate design that slides out to extend the length of the load bed.

We’ve no information on what might power the EPU when a production version arrives, nor what battery or range it might get. That said, knowing Toyota’s plans to offer cars with 500 miles or more by 2026, we can safely assume the EPU would sit among the longest-range electric vehicles in its class. A class that admittedly, right now, consists of just one model: the Maxus T90EV.

We’ll learn more about the five-seat EPU in due course, but Toyota has promised the usual “EV quietness” and a “low centre of gravity for superior handling stability and ride comfort”. The maker has also said the monocoque body will deliver “high durability” – an essential character trait in this part of the market.

Find out what else has been happening at this year's Tokyo Motor Show here…

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