SHUTTLE TO SOUTH POLE

Toyota Hilux - already renowned for its capacity to overcome any extreme challenge, from driving to the North Pole to conquering the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull – now has successfully completed yet another extraordinary journey, travelling across the coldest, most hostile environment in the world, Antarctica, to reach the South Pole.

Between 10th November and 5th December 2010, four Hilux transported expedition members of the Indian National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) -studying snow chemistry, the glacial landscapes and the bedrock hidden beneath the ice- on a 4,600 km round trip from Novo Air Base, to the South Pole, and safely back.

The Hilux 3.0 D-4D vehicles were produced at Toyota South Africa Motors and were adapted by Icelandic Toyota 4x4 conversion specialists, Arctic Trucks to face with extreme weather, average temperatures of below -40C and peaks of -56C, altitudes of over 3,400m and the most brutal driving environment imaginable. Necessary modifications made by Arctic Trucks included the integration of a crane to lift heavy equipment and fuel, the use of Jet 1A fuel with additional lubricants to tackle the extreme cold, revised front/rear suspension and drivetrain, extra heating system, crawler gears, crevasse protection and the fitment of extra large tires with a pressure as low as 20psi (regular Hilux tyres have a pressure of 29psi).

The Hilux has a uniquely high load carrying capacity: a low unladen weight of just 2.2 tons with a payload capacity of 1.5 tons and a towing capacity of 3 tons – an essential attribute when carrying the expedition equipment, spare parts and participants, as well as 1,280 liters of fuel per vehicle.

Given the extreme conditions, the Hilux has proven very low comparable fuel consumption of 50 l/100 km. Even with the use of less energy-efficient Jet 1A fuel, the vehicle engine running 24/7 and running extra heating system constantly on, this figure was 5 to 8 times lower than that achieved by tracked vehicles. This significantly reduced both transported fuel loads and fuel costs (one barrel of oil in Antarctica can cost $10,000) and the expedition could rely on only one refueling point, established some 1,500 km from the journey starting point - Maitri Antarctica station. 

Thus the relatively low fuel consumption the expedition could maintain a higher average speed than and comparable expedition in the past.