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CHICAGO MOTOR SHOW: Toyota Tundra for Oz?
Toyota's full-sized pickup is ready for Australia, if Australia is ready for the TundraToyota's North American division has taken the wraps off the latest iteration of its gargantuan, full-sized Tundra pickup at the Chicago motor show.
Tundra, we have reported previously, is a vehicle that would readily convert to right-hand drive, making it suitable for the local market – in theory.
The new model, powered by one V6 and two V8 petrol engines – the largest a 284kW/543Nm 5.7-litre V8 – remains a huge vehicle rivalling the likes of the legendary Ford F-Series and Dodge Ram pickups. But the Tundra is too large for most countries said Mike Sweers, Chief Engineer for the Toyota Tundra and Tacoma vehicle programs.
"A full-sized pickup is really a North American kind of vehicle. It's distinct and unique for this market," said Mr Sweers. However he noted that Toyota's large pickup is exported to several countries in South America and even New Caledonia, and told motoring.com.au a right-hand drive version of the vehicle would be easy to do.
"Well of course it's possible to change it to right-hand drive, we do that for some of our export vehicles now," said Mr Sweers, but he added that unless the demand was there it was unlikely to come to Australia.
"We have the HiLux in Australia, it's popular and does well. If there's a demand [for Tundra] we could always look to introduce it, but at this time HiLux fits our needs in the Australian market."
The chances of the hulking Toyota Tundra coming to Australia are remote, but it's not unforeseeable, particularly when rival vehicles such as the Dodge Ram are currently undergoing right-hand drive feasibility studies for a possible introduction Down Under.
Mr Sweers explained that the process of converting the Tundra to right-hand drive doesn't pose any major engineering problems: "Right hand drive, left hand drive is not that difficult to switch up. The biggest difficulty is reengineering the instrument panel."
He admitted that currently there are no right-hand drive markets, such as South Africa, putting their hand up for the Tundra, a vehicle that can tow more than 4.5 tonnes.
The new 2014 Toyota Tundra has been given a refresh inside and out with new styling cues and comes with standard features such as a reversing camera and Bluetooth connectivity. It can even be optioned with a blind spot monitor.
The last full-sized pickup sold in Australia was the Ford F-Series between the years 2001 and 2008. Right-hand versions of the big Ford ute were imported from Brazil. Ford Australia averaged 2000 F-Series sales a year between 2002 and 2005, but sales began to slide from 2006 as Ford stopped importing the vehicles, since they didn't meet the newly-introduced Euro III emissions standard at the time.
Given the improved strength of the Australian dollar since that time, the Tundra could be priced-right for the local market – if the demand for such a large vehicle makes the business case for it viable.
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Written byFeann Torr
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If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
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