2024 Toyota Tacoma unveiled with Australian engineering

Whereas the fourth-generation Toyota Tacoma is designed primarily for the USA, Australia did play a small function in creating the brand new “mid-size” pickup truck.

ARB, the Australia-based off-roading specialist firm, was tapped to develop key parts for the brand new Trailhunter trim line that’s aimed toward those that prefer to go overlanding. ARB’s components additionally seem on the desert racing-focussed TRD Professional. Extra on each later.

As anticipated, the brand new Tacoma is predicated on the TNGA-F body-on-frame structure that already serves as the idea for the bigger Tundra pickup, Sequoia SUV, and 300-Collection LandCruiser.

There are two passenger cab choices: Xtra Cab with two doorways, two seats and a big storage space behind, and the Double Cab with 4 doorways and 5 seats. Each Xtra and Double Cab fashions can had with both a five- or six-foot (1.5m or 1.8m) tray.

A boxy inside matches the inside. On decrease grades there’s a 7.0-inch show within the instrumentation space, and an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, whereas higher-spec fashions have a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation cluster and 14.0-inch touchscreen.

The bottom powertrain providing is the 2.4-litre i-Drive turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.

Within the base SR mannequin, this engine makes 170kW and 329Nm. For all different trim ranges, the two.4-litre turbo cranks out 207kW and 430Nm when paired to an eight-speed computerized.

The obtainable six-speed handbook comes with computerized rev-matching, anti-stall know-how, and the flexibility to start out in gear, however the engine is detuned to 201kW and 420Nm.

Step as much as the i-Drive Max and also you’ll be handled to a hybrid powertrain with a model of that 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo coupled to a 36kW electrical motor constructed into the eight-speed computerized transmission, and hooked as much as a 1.87kWh nickle metallic hydride (NiMH) battery.

All collectively, the i-Drive Max is alleged to supply 243kW and 630Nm.

Rear-wheel drive Tacos are fitted with an computerized limited-slip differential, whereas four-wheel drive fashions acquire an electronically managed two-speed switch case, auto LSD, and lively traction management. The varied TRD fashions and Trailhunter grade even have an digital locking rear differential, whereas the hybrid model of the Restricted variant has full-time four-wheel drive and a centre-locking diff.

Leaf-spring rear suspension is customary on decrease grades, whereas costlier variants have a multi-link rear setup. All variants now have four-wheel disc brakes as customary.

There’s a dizzying variety of trim ranges obtainable (SR, SR5, TRD PreRunner, TRD Sport, TRD Off Street, Restricted, TRD Professional, and Trailhunter), a lot of which have a powerful off-road focus.

The Aussie connection is strongest within the Trailhunter, which, in accordance with Toyota, was developed with the an ARB engineering staff working on-site in America.

As such the Trailhunter rides on 33-inch Goodyear Territory R/T tyres. It options Outdated Man Emu off-road suspension with position-sensitive 2.5-inch solid monotube shocks geared up with rear exterior piggyback-style distant reservoirs.

In comparison with the common Tacoma, the Trailhunter’s journey top is 51mm taller on the entrance and 38mm taller on the rear.

There are additionally ARB rear restoration factors, a metal rear bumper, and a utility bar with detachable MOLLE (Modular Light-weight Load-carrying Tools) panels within the tray mattress.

On the choices listing are light- and heavy-duty ARB mattress racks that may help objects like a rooftop tent, canopies, or camp bathe.

All of this ARB gear sits alongside the usual hybrid engine, heritage grille with Toyota wording, rock rails, quite a few bash plates constituted of high-strength metal, 20-inch gentle bar, 2400W AC inverter, and a factory-made high-mount air consumption.

The range-topping TRD Professional additionally options ARB’s metal rear bumper with restoration factors, nevertheless it rides on an adjustable Fox suspension setup with Inside Floating Piston bump stops.

For the driving force and entrance passenger there are IsoDynamic Efficiency Seats, which have an adjustable air-over-oil shock absorber system to counteract each vertical and lateral seat motion.

The TRD Professional has 280mm of floor clearance, and can be 76mm wider than the SR5 grade. Toyota claims it has 33.8-degree strategy, 23.5-degree breakover, and 25.7-degree departure angles.

Deliveries of the brand new Tacoma start later this yr within the US, though the hybrid i-Drive Max fashions gained’t attain showrooms till early 2024.

It’s virtually a given the brand new Tacoma will proceed to dominate the mid-size pickup truck section within the US, however the query is whether or not it will possibly develop its lead.

In 2022, the Tacoma lapped the competitors with 215,853 gross sales. The Chevrolet Colorado (89,187) and Jeep Gladiator (77,855) took up the rostrum locations, whereas the Nissan Frontier (76,185), Ford Ranger (56,987), Honda Ridgeline (42,762), and GMC Canyon (27,821) rounded out the listing.