America's favorite midsized pickup truck is about to be renewed.
Toyota officially kicked off the teaser campaign for the all-new Tacoma, which means the unveiling can't be too far off.
The image doesn't reveal much, apart from the sun setting, creating the perfect opportunity to capture an ideal silhouette shot of the new Taco and its supposed owner staring pensively into the distance. This image does prove that the new Tacoma will still be aimed at the adventurous, with the caption stating, "lost in the stars."
Obviously, Toyota knows all the tricks of the trade because playing around with the brightness and contrast of the image produced nothing. Actually, if you push the brightness levels all the way up, it shows a handle for the tailgate, so we can officially tell you that the new Tacoma's tailgate will have a handle. Riveting stuff.
There's actually no need to fake some imagery because we already know what the next Tacoma will look like, thanks to a Brazilian patent filing. The new Tacoma is essentially a scaled-down Tundra featuring slim headlights, flamboyantly flared wheel arches, and loads of creases. It's quite similar to the unnamed EV truck concept Toyota previewed in late 2021.
Toyota was wise to keep the design language inoffensive and familiar. While the Tundra struggles to compete against the best-selling Ford F-150, The Japanese brand's smallest truck (for now) has been a dominant force in the midsize segment for years. Toyota sold more than two Tacomas for every Ranger sold during 2022, and that was during a bad year.
Thanks to some insider information, we also know a little about the two engine options. Toyota will finally ditch the aging 2.7-liter inline-four and 3.5-liter V6. Hardcore fans might not like it, but like the Chevy Colorado, the 'Taco is going the turbo-four and hybrid routes.
Toyota already ripped the old 3.5 V6 front the front of the facelifted Toyota Highlander, resulting in a much better car. In the Highlander, the engine produces 265 horsepower, which is down on power compared to the current Tacoma V6's figure of 278 hp. But the turbocharged engine produces 310 lb-ft compared to the V6's 256 lb-ft, and the torque is available from much lower down.
In the 2023 Lexus RX, the same turbocharged four produces 275 hp and 317 lb-ft, proving it's a reasonably adaptable powertrain.
The Hybrid Max system made its debut in the Toyota Crown. It's a dual-electric motor setup working with the 2.4-liter forced induction engine, providing a combined output of 340 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Toyota is still working on a PHEV version of this engine, but it will likely find its way into the Tacoma.
We doubt Toyota will bolt the new twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 under the hood because it has never been big on Raptor-like trucks. Instead, it will likely focus on developing a broad range of Tacoma trims suitable for suburban driving and epic overlanding adventures.
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