New Toyota Tundra teased
Bold new look for Toyota’s next-generation full-size pick-up, but V8 engine set to be droppedToyota has provided the first glimpse of the 2022 Toyota Tundra pick-up truck, revealing a teaser image of the Ford F-150 rival’s design overnight.
The American arm of Toyota released the solitary image with the statement: “The future of Toyota trucks is bright with the all-new, next-generation 2022 Toyota Tundra leading the way.”
An imposing grille takes centre stage in the full-size pick-up’s new design, complemented by reworked headlights and a light bar stretching across the centre of the grille where the previous Tundra had a Toyota badge.
Expect significant underbody changes for the Tundra, an American-derived ute that isn’t currently sold in Australia in a factory-backed capacity but is firmly on the radar of local officials.
Toyota is set to trade in the current Tundra’s enduring 5.7-litre V8 petrol engine for a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol.
A hybrid option will also be offered, and Toyota has made no secret of its intentions to bring an electric Tundra to market.
Similarly, there is speculation Toyota will replace the outgoing Tundra’s leaf-spring rear for either coil springs, air springs or even fully independent rear suspension.
Earlier this year, Toyota Australia sales and marketing chief Sean Hanley confirmed that the company was continuing to build a business case for Tundra Down Under.
Toyota acknowledges there is a strong Australian appetite for the Tundra’s 4.5-tonne towing capacity, which goes far beyond the capability of the evergreen Toyota LandCruiser that is also about to be replaced with the incoming 300 Series.
It also has ample evidence from the success of Ateco Group’s RAM Trucks Australia venture, which has just this week brought to market the new-generation DT-series RAM 1500.
The Chevrolet Silverado is the other main player on the Aussie market, sold through the new General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) operation.
“Are we studying that (full-size pick-up) market continuously? Yes, we are. Have we confirmed we are bringing that model to market? No we haven’t,” Hanley said.
Hanley confirmed Toyota Australia had yet to establish if the factory in Texas where the Tundra is built was willing to tool up for a right-hand drive version of the truck.
“We are on record as saying we continue to review that market segment. We have seen that market segment grow in recent years,” said Hanley.
“For us, at Toyota, it’s about building a business case that works for Toyota.
“We don’t have any announcements today, but one thing about Toyota, when we bring something to market we study it and we get it right.
“We will look at that market carefully, we will continue to study it, we continue to look at business cases, whether we can make it work.”
The new-gen Toyota Tundra is expected to be revealed soon before touching down in the US either late this year or early in 2022.
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