The Toyota Tundra is a full-size pickup truck introduced by Toyota in the year 2000. It was widely considered to be the first full-size import-brand truck built with an American look and feel and a refined V8Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year in 2000 and 2008. Currently the Tundra is assembled in San Antonio, Texas where production was consolidated in 2008. engine. The Tundra was eventually nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award and was
The first generation Tundra had many similarities with the older Toyota T100 and the compact Toyota Tacoma. The biggest of those similarities was the shared use of a 3.4-liter V6 engine which was the top of the line engine in both the Tacoma and T100. The V6 engine would serve as the base engine for the Tundra, while a second powerplant, a first for a Toyota truck, a V8 engine sized at 4.7-liters was added to the lineup.
First generation (2000–2006)
Publicly introduced in May 1999 as a 2000 model, the Tundra prototypes and "show trucks" were initially known as T150s. However, Ford and automotive pundits felt that this name was too close to the market-leader Ford F-150, and following a lawsuit by Ford, the production truck was renamed the Tundra (Toyota claimed they never truly intended to use the T150 name in actual production). Toyota then countersued Ford regarding the name of their then-released Lincoln LS sedan, arguing it was too close to that of the Lexus LS
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| Toyota Tundra StepSide |
The Tundra was slightly larger than the T100, but still suffered the perception of being too small and carlike to pose a serious threat to the domestic pickup trucks. With a production capacity of 120,000, sales were double the rate of the T100. At the time the Tundra also had the largest initial vehicle sales for Toyota in its history. It garnered impressive honors, including
Motor Trend's Truck of the Year award for 2000 and Best Full- Size Truck from
Consumer Reports. Built in a new Toyota plant in Princeton, Indiana, with 65 percent domestic content, the Tundra showed that Toyota was serious about closing the gap on the "Big Three" in all major segments.
Engine choices available in the Tundra were a 24V 3.4-liter V6 engine that produced 190 horsepower (140 kW) and 220 lb·ft (298 N·m) of torque and an LEV certified 32 valve 4.7-liter "i-Force" V8 engine that produced 245 horsepower (183 kW) and 315 lb·ft (427 N·m) of torque. A Toyota Racing DevelopmentVVT-i equipped 4.7-liter engine. (TRD) supercharger was already available for the 3.4-liter V6 (2000-2003 models) that bumped horsepower to the 260 horsepower (190 kW) range and 260 lb·ft (350 N·m) of torque. TRD introduced a second supercharger for the V8 (2000-2003 models) engine late into its second year of production that pushed the V8 numbers to the mid 300 horsepower (220 kW) range and torque to the 400 lb·ft (540 N·m) range. Although the V6 supercharger is still widely available, the V8 supercharger is rarer and harder to find because TRD stopped its production once Toyota released the updated
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| 2003-2006 Toyota Tundra regular cab |
The grille was updated for 2003 and the Double Cab version was added to the lineup in 2004. The Double Cab model was a true crew cab with four normal doors, with interior and exterior details copied from the Toyota Sequoia. Its bed is nearly 5 inches (130 mm) longer than the competing Nissan Titan or Ford F-150. It is also 13 inches (330 mm) longer and 3 inches (76 mm) taller than the Regular and Access cab versions. A new engine was introduced in 2005: a 4.0-liter V6 rated at 236 horsepower (176 kW) and 266 ft·lbf (361 N·m) of torque, and the existing 4.7-liter V8 was updated with Toyota's VVT-i
variable valve timingmanual gave way to a 6-speed manual, and a 5-speed automatic replaced the 4-speed. With a towing capacity of just 6,900 lb (on the Double Cabs) and a 7,100 pounds towing capacity on the Access Cabs and Regular Cabs with a V8 engine, it still did not have enough muscle to compete with the heavy-duty offerings of the Big Three and Nissan. Domestic truck aficionados still derided it as a "7/8 scale" pickup. technology and was rated at 282 horsepower (210 kW) and 325 ft·lbf (441 N·m) of torque while the 2006 versions were rerated at 271 horsepower (202 kW) and 313 ft·lbf (424 N·m) of torque . The 5-speed
In 2006 the Darrell Waltrip Edition was sold honoring the NASCAR star and his participation in the NASCAR Truck Series. Only 2000 V8 powered Double Cab models were produced. The package included special badging and unique 18" wheels.
The IIHS rated the Tundra "Good" overall in their frontal offset crash test.It was the first full-size pickup awarded a "Good" score, it's then competitors from Ford and Dodge were rated "Poor" and in the case of GM's entry "Marginal".
Safety recalls
During late 2009 Toyota issued a recall on 2000-2003 model year Tundras regarding rust problems of a rear crossmember. This recall involved 110,000 vehicles and followed a similar action for the Tacoma. Following the Tacoma voluntary recall Tundra owners began complaining of rust issues prompting the NHTSA to begin investigation. Within days Toyota recalled the Tundra. If no rust is detected an anti-corrosion compound will be applied, if rust is detected the crossmember will be replaced.[3] While Toyota originally limited the recall to 20 cold-weather states, problems were already evident elsewhere. In March 2010, the recall was expanded throughout the country.[4] Toyota has offered to buy back affected vehicles at 1.5 times the most generous Kelley Blue Book value if they show significant frame rust.
Second generation (2007–present)
A larger Tundra was introduced at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show. It had lifted cues of its smaller brother the Toyota Tacoma along with some cues from the Toyota FTX concept truck. One unique styling element used fenders that bulged to resemble a biceps muscle. The truck had many enhancements, such as a towing capacity of up to 10,000+ lb, a payload capacity of over 2,000 lb (910 kg), a new 5.7-liter
3UR-FE V8 engine mated to a new 6-speed automatic transmission. The second generation Tundra has 3 engines available. The new 5.7-liter V8 that produces 381 horsepower (284 kW) and 401 pound-feet (544 N·m) of torque, and the carry over 4.7-liter
2UZ-FE V8 rated at 276 horsepower (206 kW) and 313 pound-feet (424 N·m) of torque, as well as the previous 4.0-liter
1GR-FE V6 rated at 236 horsepower (176 kW) and 266 pound-feet (361 N·m) of torque.
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| 2010 Toyota Tundra CrewMax |
When the new Tundra first came out in February 2007 it was available in 31 configurations, which consisted of 3 bed lengths, 3 cab configurations, 4 wheel-bases, and 2 transmissions The new Double Cab replaces the previous generations Access Cab, and the all new Crew Max replaces the previous generations Double Cab, it is also built to compete with the Dodge Ram Mega Cab. The Double Cab is available with a 6.5-foot (2.0 m) bed, regular bed, or an 8-foot (2.4 m) long bed, while the Crew Max is only available with a 5.5-foot (1.7 m) short bed. The Tundra also features a new 6-speed automatic transmission which can lockup the torque converter in 5
th and 6
th gears with a manual shift mode which is standard with the 5.7-liter, and gives it a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds, and a quarter mile time of 14.7 seconds.
Toyota made the new Tundra useful for many construction workers, by including extra large door handles, deck rail system, integrated tow hitch, and headrests that can fit a worker with his hard hat on. The Tundra also includes as standard: an electronic automatic limited slip differential (Auto LSD), Vehicle Stability Control, traction control, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, anti-lock brakes and tailgate assist. However, its high starting MSRP of $22,390 makes it more expensive than the Chevy Silverado Work Truck (MSRP $17,860) and the base Ford F-150 (MSRP $17,345).
Some other changes Toyota included in the new Tundra are optional tow mirrors, a 26.4 US gal (100 L; 22 imp gal) fuel tank, available 22-inch (560 mm) alloy wheels, backup camera, Bluetooth, large center console (big enough to fit a 15-inch (380 mm) laptop), extra-large disc brakes and calipers, and the aforementioned 6-speed sequential automatic transmission.
All 5.7-liter Tundras come equipped with a tow package which includes engine oil and transmission coolers, integrated trailer hitch, 4.30:1 axle ratio, and large braking hardware for increased fade resistance.
Engines
2007–2009 model year
- 4.0 L V6 GR engine 236 hp (176 kW) and 266 lb·ft (361 N·m) (California Air Resources Board (CARB) LEV II certified)
- 4.7 L V8 UZ engine 276 hp (206 kW) and 313 lb·ft (424 N·m) (CARB ULEV II certified)
- 5.7 L V8 UR engine 381 hp (284 kW) and 401 lb·ft (544 N·m) (CARB ULEV II certified)
2010 model year
- 4.0 L V6 GR engine 236 hp (176 kW) and 266 lb·ft (361 N·m) (CARB LEV II certified)
- 4.6 L V8 UR engine 310 hp (231 kW) and 327 lb·ft (443 N·m) (CARB ULEV II certified)
- 5.7 L V8 UR engine 381 hp (284 kW) and 401 lb·ft (544 N·m) (CARB ULEV II certified)
Safety
The Tundra comes equipped with dual front airbags, front row side torso airbags, and rollover sensing side curtain airbags for both the front and rear rows. Vehicle Stability Control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, brake assist, and electronic brakeforce distribution are also standard.
For the 2010 model year, a driver and front passenger knee airbag becomes standard.
Toyota's Tundra was the first full-size pickup to have earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's
Top Safety Pick accolade, followed by the redesigned 2009 Ford F-150.
In tests conducted by the IIHS, the Tundra received an overall "Good" score in the frontal offset crash test,
the highest possible rating in the side impact crash test,
and the maximum score for rear crash protection.
The primary difference between IIHS and NHTSA frontal crash testing, is the IIHS conducts an offset test where a smaller portion of the vehicle's structure absorbs the energy of the crash.
This type of crash test is more demanding on the vehicle's structure, while the full frontal crash test is more demanding on the vehicle's restraint systems.
Both IIHS and NHTSA frontal impact tests can only be compared among vehicles of similar weights.
Because the Tundra's Vehicle Stability Control system is disabled when the vehicle's 4x4 system is engaged
Consumer Reports has questioned the Tundra's
Top Safety Pick award. Toyota's response is the Tundra does not feature a center differential which would become a weak point in the drivetrain.
However the stability control system remains operational at times when the truck is in 4x2 mode though many drivers will select the 4x4 mode in slippery conditions. As of the 2010 model year this has been corrected. Electronic stability control functions in 4x4hi and is disengaged in 4x4lo. This is verified by the updated owners manual, visor instructions, and road tests in snow and ice in 4x4hi. When under steer or over steer occurs in 4x4hi a beeping noise is emitted, and the dash indicator lights up yellow indicating that VSC is activated, braking individual wheels to match driver input at the steering wheel.
Hybrid Tundra Cars
Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe has stated that he would like to develop a hybrid electric version of the Tundra. However, Toyota faces several technical challenges that it must overcome before it could bring such a vehicle to market.
According to the Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Toyota is considering developing a gasoline electric hybrid Tundra, for sale in North America around 2010.
Toyota may also introduce a diesel electric hybrid system for the Tundra. In Japan, the Toyota Dyna and Hino Dutro light trucks produced by the Toyota Motor use diesel electric hybrid systems. The Hino Ranger a medium to heavy duty cab-over truck could also provide hybrid technology for the next generation Tundra.
At the 2008 North American International Auto Show, Toyota USA President Jim Lentz stated "different models require different types of fuel saving technology...there may be a few [models] where hybrid technology doesn’t make sense". He further went on to say that the Tundra and the new Sequoia will not be offered with a hybrid engine in the near future, instead those vehicles would feature "clean, fuel efficient diesel engines.
For now, it seems, the Tundra Hybrid has been sent back to the drawing board or cancelled entirely.
