Toyota’s Dakar Hilux trades its V6 for a hydrogen fuel cell

Toyota Gazoo Racing has revealed a hydrogen fuel cell version of its Dakar Hilux, which will run the Future Mission 1000 category in Saudi Arabia in January 2027 ahead of a production fuel cell Hilux in 2028.

Andrew Sluys September 21, 2026 · 2 min read

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Toyota DKR GR FC Hilux hydrogen rally truck driving through sand dunes — The DKR GR FC Hilux runs Dakar's Future Mission 1000 class in January. Image: Toyota

Toyota Gazoo Racing has revealed a hydrogen fuel cell version of its Dakar Rally Hilux, which will run the 2027 event in Saudi Arabia from 1 to 15 January with water as its only tailpipe emission.

The DKR GR FC Hilux is based on the DKR GR Hilux, the twin-turbo V6 truck that has won the Dakar four times, with the engine replaced by Toyota’s fuel cell system. It is being developed and assembled at Toyota’s European research and development centre near Brussels, with a testing programme to follow before the rally.

Toyota DKR GR FC Hilux hydrogen rally truck side view in a desert canyon — The FC Hilux keeps the chassis of Toyota’s four-time Dakar winner and replaces the twin-turbo V6 with a fuel cell. Image: Toyota

It will not contest the main event. The truck is entered in Dakar Future Mission 1000, a category for experimental vehicles and new technology that runs alongside the rally over 13 stages and 1,000 competitive kilometres, a fraction of the full rally distance. It is the first time Toyota has used fuel cell technology in its motorsport programme; its earlier hydrogen entries in the same category, the HySE buggies, burned hydrogen in combustion engines.

Toyota describes the powertrain as a 2.5-generation fuel cell system, combining second-generation technology with third-generation components, and says development is focused on downsizing the fuel cell, improving cooling and building durability. Heat, dust and sustained vibration are the conditions the stack has to survive. Jameel Motorsport, Toyota’s distributor in Saudi Arabia, is a partner alongside Denso, Toyo Tires and engineering firm IAV.

Toyota DKR GR FC Hilux front three quarter in a rocky desert — Heat, dust and vibration are the tests the fuel cell stack has to survive. Image: Toyota

The programme has a production connection. Toyota has said a fuel cell version of the road-going Hilux will follow in 2028, with reported targets of 400km of range and 2,500kg of towing, joining the diesel and battery electric versions. The electric Hilux is already on sale in New Zealand, and we took it into a swamp against the Riddara RD6 last month. Toyota is also developing a fuel cell light truck with Isuzu for Japan.

Hydrogen refuelling in New Zealand remains limited, though the country’s first hydrogen rental cars went into service in Palmerston North in August.