New Toyota Tacoma tough utes revealed

New Toyota Tacoma tough utes revealed

Two rock-crushing new pick-ups break cover in the US, hinting at GR HiLux bound for Oz

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Trail Edition pick-up trucks have broken cover in the US, adding more sizzle to the HiLux-sized dual-cab ute range.

Both US-market utes feature beefed-up suspension, the front springs lifted by 1.5 inches in the Tacoma TRD Pro and 1.1 inches in the Trail Edition, with half-inch lifts at the rear for both.

As well as improved ground clearance, the Tacoma TRD Pro gets unique TRD-engineered forged aluminium upper control arms for the front suspension, improving wheel articulation.

Together with Fox Racing shock absorbers to upgrade its off-road capability, the all-important approach, departure and ramp-over angles have improved.

The Tacoma TRD Pro truck also gets an aluminium front skid plate, 16-inch alloy wheels with chunky Goodyear A/T tyres and a surround-view ‘multi terrain monitor’ camera system.

The Toyota Tacoma Trail Edition misses out on the Fox dampers and skid plate but gains bronze alloy wheels.

Purpose-built for off-roading, the updated Tacoma truck could be a portent of what’s to come for its global sibling – the Toyota HiLux – which will be updated in October for the Aussie market, as well as the direction the car-maker is taking for the next-generation HiLux due mid-decade.

While there are similarities between the Tacoma and HiLux, the US-market Tacoma is slightly larger and is offered only with petrol engines: a 2.7-litre four-cylinder unit (118kW/244Nm) and a 3.5-litre V6 (207kW/360Nm).

There are no changes to the TRD Pro’s V6 engine with this latest overhaul.

The jacked-up off-road ute can be specified with a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission, and towing capacity tops out at 2900kg.

Other changes for the 2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro include a lurid new body colour, Electric Lime metallic. The palette also includes black, grey and white, and there are new decals for the hood as well.

More Research

While the Toyota Tacoma will almost certainly never be sold through Toyota dealerships in Australia given the sales might of the HiLux, it is expected to migrate to the same platform (TNGA-F) as the next-generation HiLux by 2024, when the two all-new model lines are launched.

They may also have a more similar visual style, but it remains to be seen if the US-market TRD (Toyota Racing Development) sub-brand will be nixed in favour of Toyota’s newer, more visible global performance brand, dubbed GR (Gazoo Racing).

The new TNGA-F platform will make its global debut in the next-gen Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series next week, and will then find its way underneath the new Toyota Tundra full-size pick-up truck later this year.

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