September 21, 2021: On Sunday, Toyota Motor unveiled its new 2022 Tundra pickup with a bolder look, new technologies, and more power. But what may surprise many truck owners is the additional power will not be from a V-8 engine.
Instead of offering the pickup a V-8 engine, the Japanese automaker will offer two versions of a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine, with a hybrid that produces up to 437 horsepower 56 more than the current V-8 and 583 foot-pounds of torque, a 45% increase than the 2021 Tundra.
“We took a fresh, transformational approach to our truck development and had to rethink many things we would previously do,” Mike Sweers, senior vice president of Toyota’s product development office, said in a statement.
It uses its twin-turbo V-6 engines has proven successful in pickup trucks. Ford Motor stunned many by introducing like engine, which it calls EcoBoost, into the best-selling F-150 pickup in 2011. The engine was a surprise hit, with Ford that adds other Ecoboost engines to its truck lineup.
Automakers have increasingly begun to offer alternative powertrain options ahead of an influx of all-electric pickups in the market in the coming years. Ford provides a hybrid F-150 and a standard hybrid on its new small Maverick pickup, while Ram Trucks offers a mild combination on its 1500.
“Buyers, in general, it becomes a little bit more accepting of alternative powertrains,” said IHS Markit principal automotive analyst Stephanie Brinley. “If the engine and the propulsion system gives you whatever is needed to operate your truck and do what is necessary with that truck. they’re accepting alternatives to V-8s.”
Aside from the new engine, the Tundra is offering a far more rugged design than the current pickup. Most notably, a huge front grille takes up most of the front of the vehicle, and it also features sleeker headlights and a boxier design.
On the interior, the Tundra has an available 14-inch touchscreen and increased safety and convenience features, which include a new infotainment system.
Meanwhile, the Detroit automakers dominate the full-size pickup truck market in the U.S. Toyota is achieving some success, consistently sells more than 100,000 vehicles each year. That compares with sales of Ford’s F-Series, including the F-150 and larger versions, almost 800,000-900,000 pickups in recent years.
“The Tundra can do good, but it’s going to be No. 3. They can’t necessarily really go after Ram or Chevrolet volumes,” Brinley said.
Toyota did not release fuel economy or price for the 2022 Tundra, which is expected to be sold later this year. The vehicle’s starting pricing ranges from about $34,000 for a base model to $50,000 for an off-road TRD PRO. Fuel economy is 13 miles per gallon in the city and 17 mpg highway.
Toyota is producing the Tundra alongside the Tacoma midsize pickup at a plant in San Antonio, Texas.
