Toyota UK has recreated the iconic 2003 Top Gear truck torture test by dropping an upside-down caravan onto a Toyota Hilux BEV, according to reports. The stunt, which was put to a public vote on Reddit, resulted in a dented roof, a bottomed-out suspension, and a cracked windshield, but the pickup’s cabin held its shape and it drove away under its own power after a safety inspection.
How the 2026 Toyota Hilux BEV Survived the Caravan Drop
For the modern stunt, Toyota UK suspended an upside-down Elddis caravan weighing approximately 760 kilograms from a crane over nine meters in the air. The crane then released the trailer directly onto the cab and cargo bed of the grey ninth-generation battery-electric pickup. Once technicians cleared the vehicle, the battered pickup drove forward to let the wreckage slide off its roof.
The stunt forms part of Toyota UK’s “Please Hilux Responsibly” launch campaign, which pokes fun at owners who take the vehicle’s rugged reputation too literally. The ninth-generation lineup also includes a 48-volt mild-hybrid diesel, but the brand selected its first battery-electric variant—offering roughly 150 miles of range—for the trial. Unlike the original television broadcast, however, Toyota stopped its testing after a single caravan drop.
Origins of the Invincible Truck Reputation on Top Gear
The indestructible lore dates back to a two-part 2003 broadcast when former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson purchased a high-mileage 1988 diesel Hilux for approximately $2,450 to see how much abuse it could take before dying. Clarkson finished his segment by striking the vehicle with a wrecking ball and setting the cabin on fire.
In the second half of the 2003 episode, fellow presenter James May placed the battered truck on top of a 240-foot tower block scheduled for demolition. The vehicle emerged from the rubble still driveable, earning a spot on a plinth in the Top Gear studio from 2004 to 2016. The vehicle now resides at the Grampian Transport Museum. Following the original broadcast, Toyota UK introduced a new flagship Hilux Invincible trim in July 2004, explicitly citing the truck’s survival of fire, flood, tumbling tower blocks, and a deadly caravan in its promotional material.
Did you know?
The original 1988 Toyota Hilux featured on Top Gear had accumulated 190,000 miles before Clarkson bought it for the grueling stunt series.
What Lies Ahead for the Electric Pickup Torture Tests
For now, Toyota has handed the keys of the test vehicle over to the redactors at Top Gear for their own projects, which are expected to appear on YouTube.
Toyota electric pickup survives heavy caravan drop stunt
What model of electric truck did Toyota use for the stunt?
Toyota UK used a grey ninth-generation Toyota Hilux BEV, which is the brand’s first battery-electric pickup truck and provides around 150 miles of driving range.
How heavy was the caravan dropped onto the Hilux?
The upside-down Elddis caravan weighed approximately 760 kilograms and was dropped from a height of over nine meters.
Did the electric Hilux survive the drop?
Yes. Although the impact dented the roof, cracked the windshield, and compressed the suspension, the cabin shell held its shape, and technicians confirmed the vehicle was safe to drive away.
Will the electric truck face more Top Gear tests?
Toyota UK handed the keys over to the Top Gear team for their own planned projects, though Toyota itself ended its portion of the testing after the single caravan drop.
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