Toyota Gazoo Racing Will Field Hydrogen Hilux In 2027 Dakar Rally

Toyota Gazoo Racing has unveiled its new hydrogen-powered DKR GR FC Hilux, showcasing its official competition livery ahead of the Dakar Rally scheduled for January 2027 in Saudi Arabia. The prototype will compete in the Dakar Future Mission 1000 category, an alternative-energy challenge that runs alongside the main event rather than within the headline car class. Across the rally, which runs from January 1 to January 15, the truck is slated to tackle approximately 621 miles of demanding desert special stages fueled entirely by hydrogen.

Unlike the standard DKR GR Hilux, which relies on a specially tuned internal combustion engine, the FC version replaces that setup with an advanced Toyota fuel cell system. As a result, its primary exhaust emission across the desert sand is water vapor. The setup features what Toyota describes as a "2.5-generation" configuration, combining elements from second-generation fuel cells with newer third-generation hardware. This configuration was detailed by the head of Toyota's hydrogen factory at the Hannover commercial vehicle transport show in September, representing an interim step toward a completely new generation of road-ready fuel cell stacks.

The project builds upon Toyota's earlier participation in the Dakar Future Mission 1000 with HySE hydrogen combustion prototypes in 2024 and 2025. By subjecting the fuel cell Hilux to intense desert heat, continuous vibration, sand, and extended off-road duty, Toyota aims to gather crucial engineering data under severe operating loads. These real-world findings will directly benefit the commercial roadmap, which includes a planned production Hilux Fuel Cell targeting a 2028 release with an estimated driving range exceeding 250 miles and a 5,500-pound towing capacity.

To support the Dakar program, Toyota Gazoo Racing has assembled a team of key technical and operational partners. Saudi Arabia's authorized Toyota and Lexus distributor, Jameel Motorsport, provides regional logistics and base support for the rally. Denso contributes vital components and expertise for the unproven powertrain, cooling, and electronic management systems, while German engineering firm IAV assists on technical development. Additionally, Toyo Tires announced on September 17, 2026, that it will equip the vehicle with its Open Country M/T-R tires, engineered from sustainable materials for extreme terrain and durability. The Dakar effort forms part of Toyota's wider hydrogen push, which recently included commercial fuel cell agreements with truck manufacturers Scania and Iveco.