HiLux sets new record for Antarctic trek
Guinness acknowledges achievement of Arctic Trucks' ToyotasThe Toyota HiLux has been honoured for a gruelling achievement in Antarctica back in December.
Chosen by the Kazakh Geographic Society for the journey from Novolazarevskaya Station (or more conveniently known as Novo Air Base) to the South Pole, the four Toyota HiLuxes were specially prepared for the mission by Arctic Trucks. The Icelandic firm is probably best known for supporting UK motoring show Top Gear on a journey to the North Pole in 2007.
An earlier expedition by the Indian National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research also drove Arctic Trucks-prepped HiLuxes from Novo to the South Pole, but it was the Kazakh mission that set the new record — 4600km in 108 hours between December 4 and 8. While December is summer at the South Pole, temperatures were still as low as -56 degrees Celsius and the vehicles were called upon to cover terrain at altitudes as high as 3400m.
Arctic Trucks made no modifications to the 3.0-litre four-cylinder diesel in the HiLuxes, but the fuel used was Jet 1A, which is less prone to freezing. Fuel consumption was 50L/100km, which is five to eight times more efficient than fuel consumption for tracked vehicles frequently used at the Pole. For the journeys, the HiLuxes featured revised suspension and drivetrain components, an upgraded heating system, crawler gears, crevasse protection and extra large tyres.
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