Tacoma

Make
Toyota
Segment
Sports Car

Toyota has released on social media an image of the current generation Tacoma mid-size pickup truck with a direct message attached: "Patented good looks…" Okay, what does that mean? The answer dates back to January when patented images of the next Tacoma were leaked from the Brazilian patent office website. Now, if you look closely at the latest post you'll notice a certain sign in the background attached to a brick building. What does it say? "Brazilian Patent Office." Clever one, Toyota. Very clever. We get it.

Those patent images are the real deal. Only a few days ago, Toyota released a teaser image of the all-new Taco but it showed precisely zero design details. The official reveal is just days away. How do we know this?

Look closely again at this latest image. The blue Tacoma's darkened license plate says it all: 040423. Translation: April 4, 2023. Yep, that's exactly one week from today. Get ready everyone.

Details about the new Tacoma have been kept under wraps, but an inside source claimed back in December there will be two engine options: a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a Hybrid Max. The former is also found in the current Highlander where it produces 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. The hybridized version could pack around 366 hp and 406 lb-ft.

Obviously, specifics will be revealed next Tuesday but the good news is that Toyota is finally getting rid of the ancient 2.7-liter inline-four and naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 and, chances are, the equally old six-speed automatic transmission.

Overall exterior styling is very reminiscent of the Tacoma EV Concept that was revealed back in 2021. The bold design features chiseled wheel arches and a front end that looks awfully like the new Tundra's.

Also like the Tundra, the new Taco will utilize the same TNGA-F architecture but it won't receive the larger truck's twin-turbocharged V6. The base version of that engine comes with either 348 or 379 horsepower. The more powerful hybridized variant produces 437 hp with 583 lb-ft. To date, no interior images of the next Tacoma have been leaked or teased but we suspect the overall design will again resemble what's found in the Tundra.

All questions will finally be answered next week. Stay tuned.