The all-new Toyota Tundra 2022 was officially presented for the American market, where pickups have always been very popular. The third generation takes the place of the model launched in the “distant” 2007 and brings with it many innovations that could even tempt the faithful of the Ford F-150.
Billed as the toughest Tundra ever made to date, the new pickup gets a new high-strength box steel frame, an aluminum-reinforced composite body and a completely redesigned multi-link rear suspension with coil springs. Various body lengths will be available, while the maximum rated payload capacity is 880 kg.
Toyota Tundra 2022, 437 horsepower hybrid V6 arrives
Two downsized i-Force powertrains are offered, starting with the 3.5-liter V35A-FTS twin-turbo V6 engine that develops 389 hp and 649 Nm of torque. The DOHC engine features an aluminum block, chain drive and dual VVTi system, as well as state-of-the-art cylinder heads with a two-layer water jacket structure to maximize refrigerant flow. This system is also used to lower the temperature of the exhaust gases before they enter the turbo engine, thereby improving reliability and performance.
The most advanced engine i-Force Max uses hybrid technology to boost the power of the same V6 engine to 437hp and 790 Nm of torque. An engine generator is mounted in the bell housing located between the engine and transmission, providing additional propulsion and can also allow the Tundra to start in EV mode. A 288-volt nickel-metal hybrid battery is sealed under the rear passenger seats.
Both configurations feature a newly developed electronically controlled 10-speed automatic transmission with intelligence (ECTi) as standard. The gearbox features a sequential mode, uphill / downhill logic and Tow / Drive driving modes, while the hybrid adds Sport and Sport + driving modes. The maximum towing capacity for the Tundra is 5,443 kg.
The new multi-link rear suspension and newly developed double wishbone front suspension offer even better straight-line stability even when driving at high speed, while body roll is reduced by 25%.
For those looking for maximum Toyota performance offers The TRD Off-Road package which is based on single-tube Bilstein shock absorbers for even better damping, but for those who use the pickup primarily as an off-road vehicle should consider the variant TRD Pro. The latter is equipped with 2.5-inch Fox shock absorbers that raise the front by 28mm, a special front stabilizer bar, red painted suspension parts, TRD aluminum front skid plate, additional underbody protection and Falken off-road tires.
The TRD Pro also benefits from Multi-Terrain Select, which offers a number of off-road driving modes such as Crawl Control and Downhill Assist Control. Drivers can also use the360 degree vision camerai useful for seeing what is around the car when traveling on challenging terrain.
Toyoto Tundra 2022, a touch of multimedia
Inside, the Tundra 2022 is the first Toyota model to get the automaker’s new multimedia audio touchscreen system, which boasts five times more processing power than the previous generation unit. The center-mounted display measures eight inches for standard models but a whopping 14-inch model is expected for the top-of-the-range versions. Also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. “Digital” features include voice recognition with the “Hi Toyota” system, software updates over the air, connectivity 4G Wi-Fi for up to 10 devices, Toyota Connected Services and 12.3-inch full digital instrumentation for the driver only.
As far as safety is concerned, the standard for all Tundra models is the package Toyota Safety Sense 2.5. This includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, Emergency Steering Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Tracking Assist, Auto High Beam, Traffic Sign Assist, Rear Seat Reminder Toyota, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alarm and parking brake.
The 2022 Tundra will be available later this year in the US in various trim levels: SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum, 1794 and TRD Pro. The third-generation pickup is only offered as a double cab, so there won’t be a Regular Cab version with two doors, at least for the moment. In Italy it could be purchased through some importers.