Daily Drive Brief: Toyota HiLux EV and FCEV Take Shape, Brabus Lops the G’s Roof, and Paul Walker’s Ford GT Resurfaces

Some days the car world feels like two movies playing at once. On the left: Toyota knuckling down with a Toyota HiLux EV and a Toyota HiLux FCEV that sound like they’re being built for actual work. On the right: Brabus turning a G-Wagen into a sunburnt super-yacht tender. In the middle? A $12K Toyota wagon stubbornly ignoring the subscription economy. Let’s dive in—boots dusty, roof down, wallet… cautiously closed.

Toyota HiLux EV and Toyota HiLux FCEV: Built for Real Jobs, Not Brochures

CarExpert’s reporting lines up with what I’ve been hearing from fleet managers and tradies: the next-gen Toyota HiLux EV and Toyota HiLux FCEV aren’t token gestures. They’re being engineered for corrugated roads, heat, and the kind of abuse that makes cupholders rattle. I’ve spent more than a few long days in diesel HiLuxes in the outback, and the hierarchy of needs is brutally clear: start every morning, take a beating, come home with all the panels attached.

Electric drivetrains nail the slow stuff. The first time I crawled a rock garden in an EV pickup, I noticed it immediately—no turbo lag, no hunting for the right gear, just precise throttle and easy modulation. Your spotter doesn’t have to yell over anything. Hydrogen? If depots actually get pumps and fleets can refuel in minutes, the fuel-cell HiLux could replicate diesel-like uptime for regional runs. Big “if,” but progress doesn’t happen without trying.

• HiLux EV: Best for depot-charging cycles, councils, utilities, and tradies who live by instant torque and low maintenance.
• HiLux FCEV: Makes sense for longer regional routes—fast refuels and high uptime if hydrogen logistics exist.
• Common thread: Work-grade durability. Less marketing fluff, more mudguards.

Toyota HiLux EV: What It Feels Like When the Job’s On

When I tried an electric pickup on a rutted service track, the finesse was the standout. You inch forward without the diesel clatter or clutch drama—more “power tool” than “powertrain.” In town, it’s pleasantly mundane: one-pedal driving, quiet enough to hear your apprentice asking for Friday off again. Downsides? If your job site is way out past the grid, you’ll need charging at the yard and a plan B for the longer stuff.

Toyota HiLux FCEV: Where Hydrogen Actually Works

Fuel-cell utes could click for fleets running fixed routes between bases with hydrogen on tap—utilities, mines, government contractors. Quick refueling is the ace here; I’ve talked to a few fleet managers who’d trade a thousand silent launches for five-minute refills and predictable uptime. The catch remains the same: infrastructure. Hydrogen can’t just be a slide in a presentation—it needs hoses and tanks where people work.

Duty Calls: Imagining a Ford Ranger “Super Duty” Use Case

CarExpert also floated a hypothetical: a heavy-duty Ford Ranger for fleets that punish trucks daily. I can see it—bigger cooling, beefier brakes, reinforced tow gear, and interiors you can hose off without an insurance claim. I’ve loaded Rangers to the legal limit; the chassis holds its nerve, but you feel the brakes and temps complain on long, hot descents. A factory heavy-duty kit would save fleets from spending a second mortgage at the aftermarket shop.

Quick Compare: HiLux EV vs HiLux FCEV vs Ranger “Super Duty” (Concept)

Another Chinese Brand Eyes Australia—But With a Different Toolkit

CarExpert hints at a new Chinese entrant heading to Australia without the usual “cheap SUV + ute” starter pack. Maybe compact vans, purpose-built commercial EVs, or a budget-friendly off-road niche. I chatted with a few Aussie owners who’ve gone off-brand; most don’t mind the logo if the warranty is long, the dealer answers the phone, and parts don’t take six months by sea. Nail aftersales, and the market listens.

Brabus Builds the Convertible G-Wagen You Secretly Want

Road & Track spotted the Brabus XL 800 Cabrio—a Mercedes-AMG G63 with no roof and zero chill. I’ve driven stock G63s that felt like bank vaults doing track-star sprints; with Brabus’s “800” tune, throttle response turns from spicy to unhinged. Top down, twin-turbo V8 clearing its throat down Sunset? Everyone hears you before they see you, which is probably the point.

• Base: Mercedes-AMG G63, the bulldog in a tux.
• Brabus bits: Widebody kit, lavish cabin, and a power hike that makes “800” feel very literal.
• Quirk: Roofless plus boxy equals wind management theatrics at highway speeds—pack a hat.

Paul Walker’s 2005 Ford GT Heads Back to Auction

Carscoops notes a piece of modern analog royalty is resurfacing: Paul Walker’s Ford GT. The mid-2000s GT still lights up your nerve endings. Supercharged 5.4-liter V8, around 550 hp, six-speed manual, and proportions that look like the ’60s got a CAD upgrade. Last time I drove one, the supercharger whine wound up like a kettle and the car just devoured distance—clean, linear, old-school grip with new-school pace.

• Engine: Supercharged 5.4L V8
• Output: Approximately 550 hp
• Character: Slick six-speed manual, mighty mid-range, no filters

Toyota Still Sells a $12K Wagon Somewhere, and That’s Kind of Perfect

Also via Carscoops: in some markets, Toyota’s still hawking a no-fuss wagon for roughly $12,000. Steel wheels, hard plastics, air-con that blasts like a meat locker, and often manual windows that never break. Ideal for small businesses or families counting years instead of screen inches. Toss it keys, it says “yes” every morning. Not glamorous, but reliability rarely needs makeup.

The VW Golf’s Evolutionary Magic Trick

Road & Track compares Darwin’s finches to the Volkswagen Golf’s ability to adapt. Fair. From the crisp Mk1 to today’s digital Mk8, there’s a Golf for nearly every niche: GTI for the B-road, R for all-weather sprints, diesels for the marathon commute (where they’re still allowed). What’s always struck me is how a Golf can be thrashed without ever making a scene—unflappable, unbothered, quietly excellent.

Why Today’s News Matters

• Work trucks are splitting lanes: Toyota HiLux EV for precision in cities, Toyota HiLux FCEV for distance and uptime, and heavy-duty ICE where hoses and winches rule.
• Luxury excess finds a new summit with a roofless G-Wagen that laughs at subtlety.
• Enthusiast heritage still sells—whether it’s a Paul Walker provenance or a Golf that never loses the plot.

Conclusion

From hydrogen utes to topless Gs to humble wagons, the thread is purpose. The Toyota HiLux EV and Toyota HiLux FCEV aren’t science fair projects; they’re tools being sharpened for specific jobs. Whether your “job” is hauling cable reels at dawn or making a valet grin outside Nobu—that’s your call.

FAQ

• When will the Toyota HiLux EV and FCEV go on sale?
  Toyota hasn’t published firm dates yet. CarExpert reports both versions are in real-world development aimed at fleet-grade durability rather than compliance alone.
• What kind of range can we expect from the Toyota HiLux EV?
  No official numbers. Expect ranges tailored to depot-charging duty cycles—urban/suburban routes rather than transcontinental runs.
• Can the Toyota HiLux FCEV tow like a diesel?
  Fuel cells can support strong, consistent power delivery. Final tow ratings will depend on Toyota’s setup and cooling, but the pitch is diesel-like uptime with fast refueling.
• Is hydrogen infrastructure ready for the HiLux FCEV?
  Not broadly. It makes the most sense for fleets with dedicated hydrogen depots or partners—think utilities, mining, and government bases.
• Will Ford actually build a Ranger “Super Duty”?
  There’s no confirmation. CarExpert explored the use case; the appetite from fleets is real, but Ford’s factory response remains a question mark.