Increasing Tacoma's GVWR

[phsycle]

The best example I can think of is the Frontier and Titan which are on the same "platform", even though they share very little. It just means that the assembly line steps and flow are the same for each, so they can be built on the same assembly line. But I guess that assembly line could be in Mexico.

The lastest rumors are that the Tundra redesign (in 2022) will have a 3.5l turbo, with a hybrid option... which may also be integrated into the Tacoma (just the hybrid part, not the turbos), so they'd sharing more drivetrain parts than currently. Also, I read that the 10spd transmission in the F150 is the same one the Ranger uses? Maybe the Tacoma and Tundra will also share a new transmission.

A payload upgrade for the Tundra would certainly be nice, but I doubt it will happen.

I can already see people trying to stuff the turbo's in the Tacoma. 3.5T in the Tacoma will be a riot.

 

[rruff]

I can already see people trying to stuff the turbo's in the Tacoma. 3.5T in the Tacoma will be a riot.

The electric addition should be a decent torque boost on its own.

The Tundra and Tacoma are already assembled on the same line in San Antonio. So if that's the intention they already have done that. Although Toyota still considers them two platforms at the moment.

Good point, I guess it means that "shared platform" can mean a little or a lot. But I just can't see them sharing a lot of structural parts... wouldn't make sense.

Here is a report from 10 months ago: https://www.motortrend.com/news/toyota-tacoma-tundra-share-common-platform-report-says/

 

[DaveInDenver]

Good point, I guess it means that "shared platform" can mean a little or a lot. But I just can't see them sharing a lot of structural parts... wouldn't make sense.

Here is a report from 10 months ago: https://www.motortrend.com/news/toyota-tacoma-tundra-share-common-platform-report-says/

Toyota has a lot of platforms already so I see from a global and corporate position the need to get things converged. When you think about it there's the 200 series, the 78/79 series, the real 150 series Prado and GX, IMV Hilux, 150-derived 4Runner and then the Tundra is forked from 200 series and Tacoma from IMV. The Sequoia is kind of its own sub from Tundra. It's got to be logistical nightmare trying to manage getting the right version of this u-joint or that connector from Aisin, Denso, Dana or Tyco in all their various global factories to the right Toyota factory. And all Just In Time. If they could get all these models on one or maybe two TGNA platforms and make it so any truck plant could assemble any subassembly or complete truck it's got to make things easier. For example they still make all 4Runners in Japan. They have got to want to be able to make those domestically I have to think.

 

[nickw]

You know, the clearly simple answer here is just to sell the Hilux and 70 series here, too. Duh. One is a lifestyle truck, the other is a work truck.

As cool as that would be, the 70's are just so damn expensive! It's the size of a Tacoma has payload about as much as a 3/4T, but tows less than some of the 1/2T's....I think for most commercial users a bigger interior, same (or more) payload and much increased towing capacity....at a lower price just makes more sense, which is somewhat unfortunate for us. The 70's really only have a place where size is a major factor...which in N America is mines, which they are still used. I'd imagine that is going to end soon with the likes of Bollinger introducing the electric commercial style rigs....no emissions, lower maintenance, modular construction, much higher payload capacity and I'd guess a similar price....

 

[DaveInDenver]

As cool as that would be, the 70's are just so damn expensive! It's the size of a Tacoma has payload about as much as a 3/4T, but tows less than some of the 1/2T's....I think for most commercial users a bigger interior, same (or more) payload and much increased towing capacity....at a lower price just makes more sense, which is somewhat unfortunate for us. The 70's really only have a place where size is a major factor...which in N America is mines, which they are still used. I'd imagine that is going to end soon with the likes of Bollinger introducing the electric commercial style rigs....no emissions, lower maintenance, modular construction, much higher payload capacity and I'd guess a similar price....

Yeah, that's tongue in cheek. The 70 series would sell in the tens annually here. A fair chunk of people that want them already have them either using the over 25 year rule (in the U.S.) or truly off highway use in mines. The market for commercial is nonexistent, whatever market there is for a non-Big 3 the Tundra fills fine. I'd like to see the EPA and DOT in the U.S. be less strict about importing a few niche vehicles maybe. I imagine Toyota would not be indifferent but would be hostile to the idea of importing them for collectors, which I think has been attempted and shut down before it ever started.

 

[Crooked Beat]

The electric addition should be a decent torque boost on its own.



Good point, I guess it means that "shared platform" can mean a little or a lot. But I just can't see them sharing a lot of structural parts... wouldn't make sense.

Here is a report from 10 months ago: https://www.motortrend.com/news/toyota-tacoma-tundra-share-common-platform-report-says/

That motortrend link states: "The next-generation Toyota Tacoma and Tundra will sit on a common platform that will spread to all of Toyota's pickups across the globe, reports Automotive News. Sources tell the publication that Toyota has almost finished development on the common-platform pickups, and the first trucks could appear as early as next year as 2021 models."

"...common platform that will spread to all of Toyota's pickups across the globe.... " That sound like the Hi-Lux and Tacoma will become very close if not the same.

 

[luthj]

"platform" is pretty broad. It may just be a common engine/drivetrain. But suspension, frame, body, etc can differ drastically.

 

[DaveInDenver]

"platform" is pretty broad. It may just be a common engine/drivetrain. But suspension, frame, body, etc can differ drastically.

My belief is that Toyota defines a platform based on the chief engineer. How much leeway they are given I have no idea, though.

 

[rruff]

"...common platform that will spread to all of Toyota's pickups across the globe.... " That sound like the Hi-Lux and Tacoma will become very close if not the same.

Wouldn't you need to also expect that the Tundra and Tacoma will "become very close if not the same"?

 

[Crooked Beat]

Wouldn't you need to also expect that the Tundra and Tacoma will "become very close if not the same"?

Yes, that is another way to look at it.

 

[Dalko43]

Toyota has a lot of platforms already so I see from a global and corporate position the need to get things converged. When you think about it there's the 200 series, the 78/79 series, the real 150 series Prado and GX, IMV Hilux, 150-derived 4Runner and then the Tundra is forked from 200 series and Tacoma from IMV. The Sequoia is kind of its own sub from Tundra. It's got to be logistical nightmare trying to manage getting the right version of this u-joint or that connector from Aisin, Denso, Dana or Tyco in all their various global factories to the right Toyota factory. And all Just In Time. If they could get all these models on one or maybe two TGNA platforms and make it so any truck plant could assemble any subassembly or complete truck it's got to make things easier. For example they still make all 4Runners in Japan. They have got to want to be able to make those domestically I have to think.

We'll see...I think there will be some consolidation of platforms, but not as much as some people predict.

 

[bkg]

None of it makes sense. The Tundra is already loosely based on the 200 series Cruiser, at least they share parts. So I don't see how moving the Tacoma up from the Prado/GX/4Runner and Hilux/IMV association or moving the Tundra down can end up with much shared between the two. Maybe it would be similar to the T100 and 1st gen Tundra that shared some parts with Hilux and Tacoma just on a larger frame/chassis. But what's the point of even having both if the only real difference is the physical envelope? Anyway, that seems like the problem Toyota has is the Tundra isn't full size enough and/or the Tacoma is expected to be midsize+ to too many people. They need to make the two distinct and it seems to me offering the Tundra properly in 3/4 and maybe 1 ton would make more sense than confusing the two more by putting them on the same platform. God knows the Tundra is physically big enough already for that.

Didn't the 200 come out after the Tundra? I can't remember. I assumed that the 200 was based on the Tundra (say, from the B-pillar forward), but may be wrong.

 

[bkg]

The best example I can think of is the Frontier and Titan which are on the same "platform", even though they share very little. It just means that the assembly line steps and flow are the same for each, so they can be built on the same assembly line. But I guess that assembly line could be in Mexico.

The lastest rumors are that the Tundra redesign (in 2022) will have a 3.5l turbo, with a hybrid option... which may also be integrated into the Tacoma (just the hybrid part, not the turbos), so they'd sharing more drivetrain parts than currently. Also, I read that the 10spd transmission in the F150 is the same one the Ranger uses? Maybe the Tacoma and Tundra will also share a new transmission.

A payload upgrade for the Tundra would certainly be nice, but I doubt it will happen.

Nissan shares many of the same frame and suspension components... we've covered this.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Didn't the 200 come out after the Tundra? I can't remember. I assumed that the 200 was based on the Tundra (say, from the B-pillar forward), but may be wrong.

I think the 2nd gen Tundra did go into production a year earlier than the 200. Different chief engineers (Mike Swears and Sadayoshi Koyari) on the two as well, so commonality but not the same. Most of the similar vehicles have staggered dates, 150-series Prado came a year before 5th 4Runner, also different chief engineers (Sadayoshi Koyari on Prado and Akio Nishimura on 4Runner). Seventh gen Hilux (Kaoru Hosokawa) a year before 2nd gen Tacoma (Chikuo Kubota). The 8th gen Hilux and 3rd gen Tacoma have different chief engineers but were introduced pretty close in time. How that figures into "platforms" is hard to really say. If a few suspension parts and the engines are the same that's just shared parts. All companies do that and Toyota has that detail of design and manufacturing dialed in.

 

[Crooked Beat]

Comment I had never thought about before: "... Toyota makes passenger cars with higher payload ratings than the Tacoma."