An electric iteration of the highly popular Toyota Hiace van has been introduced as a concept in Japan, offering a sneak peek before its official unveiling at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show next week.
Although it is currently labeled as a concept, reports coming out of Japan and other news sources suggest that an electric variant of the Hiace might make its way to showroom floors sometime in the middle of this decade. Dubbed the "Global HiAce BEV Concept," this promising vehicle is built on the existing generation of people carriers and cargo movers. It carries a futuristic aesthetic characterized by streamlined LED headlights, a closed-off grille adorned with LED lighting, black wheel covers, and eye-catching neon green accents at the front.
As shown by the spotless interior, this concept is essentially a cargo van, with only a single seat reserved for the driver. This setup offers ample room for accommodating cargo, particularly pallets or lengthy items, with remarkable ease. Despite its utilitarian design, the interior has features and tech for the driver's comfort, furnished with equipment such as a tablet-inspired touchscreen infotainment system, a digital instrument cluster, climate control, and convenient charging ports.
The Global Hiace BEV Concept is derived from the extended wheelbase variant of the latest Hiace, with dimensions measuring 5,280 mm in length, 1,950 mm in width, 1,990 mm in height, and a wheelbase length of 3,210 mm. The cargo compartment is reported to have a width of 1,715 mm and a height of 1,270 mm.
This electric Toyota Hiace concept is set to make its first public appearance at the Tokyo Motor Show scheduled for next week, with press events taking place on October 25 and 26.
Interestingly, it will not be showcased at the primary Toyota brand booth. Instead, it will be presented by Toyota Auto Body, the manufacturing subsidiary responsible for producing the Hiace.
