Toyota Unveils New 2022 Tundra Pickup Truck With New Hybrid Engine

Toyota Motor unveiled its new 2022 Tundra pickup on Sunday with a bolder look, new technology and more power. But what may surprise many truck owners is that the extra horsepower won’t come from a V-8 engine.

Instead of offering the pickup exclusively with a V-8 engine, the Japanese automaker will offer two versions of a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, including a hybrid that can produce up to 437 horsepower, or 56 of more than the current V. -8- and 583 lb-ft of torque, a 45% increase over the 2021 Tundra.

“We took a new and transformative approach to developing our trucks and had to rethink many things that we had done before,” said Mike Sweers, senior vice president of Toyota’s product development office, in a statement.

The use of twin-turbo V6 engines has proven successful in pickup trucks. Ford Motor surprised many by introducing such an engine, which it calls EcoBoost, in its best-selling F-150 pickup in 2011. The engine was a surprise hit, with Ford adding more Ecoboost engines. to its range of trucks.

More and more automakers began to offer alternative powertrain options ahead of an influx of fully electric vans into the market in the years to come. Ford offers an F-150 hybrid and a standard hybrid on its new small pickup Maverick, while Ram Trucks offers a mild hybrid on its 1500.

“Buyers in general are more accepting of alternative powertrains,” said Stephanie Brinley, senior automotive analyst at IHS Markit. “If the engine and propulsion system gives you what you need to run your truck and do what you need to do with that truck, they accept alternatives to the V-8s. “

Aside from the new engine, the Tundra offers a much more robust design than the current pickup. Most notably, a massive grille that occupies the majority of the front of the vehicle. It also features sleeker headlights and a more square design.

Inside, the Tundra has an optional 14-inch touchscreen and enhanced safety and convenience features, including a new infotainment system.

While Detroit automakers dominate the full-size pickup truck market in the United States, Toyota has had some success, regularly selling over 100,000 vehicles each year. This compares to sales of Ford’s F-series, which includes the F-150 and larger versions, at around 800,000 to 900,000 pickup trucks in recent years.

“The Tundra may do well, but it’s gonna be # 3 [in the market]. They don’t necessarily have the ability to really tackle Ram or Chevrolet volumes, ”said Brinley.

Toyota has not released fuel economy or pricing for the 2022 Tundra, which is expected to go on sale later this year. The vehicle’s starting price currently ranges from around $ 34,000 for a base model to $ 50,000 for an all-terrain TRD PRO. Fuel economy is 13 miles per gallon in the city and 17 mpg on the highway.

Toyota produces the Tundra alongside the Tacoma midsize pickup at a plant in San Antonio, Texas.