3rd Gen Tacoma TRD Pro in Chicago

It's already available on current models. Here are a few pictures from the 2016 manual.

 

That's the rear limited slip/locker. What I gathered from Toyota is the Pro has a center diff limited slip that allows for AWD/4WD, similar to what the 4runner has. I could be wrong though.

 

If you have FB, click on the video link below and go to about the 11 minute mark. The chief engineer for the Tacoma talks a little about the differential on the TRD Pro.

https://www.facebook.com/toyota/videos/10153957438284201/?notif_t=live_video

 

I saw that. I just heard something that made me believe there was a CENTER diff with limited slip. Looked it up on Toyota, no such thing; just the standard 4wd transfer case.

 

I was able to watch it without signing in to FB. My favorite part was when he was asked about a supercharger at about 16 minute mark. He says they don't have one for the atkinson cycle engine...isn't an atkinson cycle engine that is supercharged called a miller cycle or something?

Then Andy Bell says it's a light enough truck...first off the 3rd gen in general is heavier then the previous gen. The trd pro is even heavier with the added components. Mike sweers says after that, the pro has a hood scoop...non functional just like the sport.

If only there were guys from tacomaworld asking the questions...all these guys interested in a freaking moon roof on an off road truck, who cares?

 

A moon roof is nice, but I understand why they didn't add one. It's the same reason they don't put moonroofs on performance sports cars. It hurts the structural integrity of the car.

 

Not really. vehicle with sunroofs have a roof that has higher structural integrity than a convential extrusion.
A Sunroof forces the design engineers to add more supports and cross bracing to meet the federal rollover requirements thereby actually exceeding the design loads of a convential roof.
Generally speaking sunroofs aren't put on sports cars for aerodynmic and functionality purposes (who is going to open a sunroof doing 150mph) and on offroad vehicles because when opened and closed during offroad situations they tend to break by jumping track.... adding a sunroof defeats the true purpose of the vehicle in each case (the first for maximum speed) and (the second decreases reliabilty).. the less $hit that can break offroad in remote areas the better. Also sunroofs reduce interior headroom which isn't advantageous if it's not a family road trip mobile, grocery getter.
A sunroof is really a personal preference thing but don't kid yourself it weakens the car's structural integrity.

 

Yeah, Swears is an idiot. S/C would work just fine on this motor if you ask me.

 

I'm sure he feels the same way about you as I woud bet you are less qualified than him to lead a vehicle design team.

 

And I'm qualified to do plenty of things that he can't, but that's not the basis of my comment. If someone asked me a question and I didn't know the answer, I wouldn't pretend.

 

I didn't see him pretend. He knows the reason, he's the design lead.

The reality is most people don't want to hear or can't handle the truth. The truth is that superchargers and turbochargers significantly decrease a vehicles long term reliabilty and are maintenance intensive, both things Toyota tries to avoid at all costs (it's why they've stopped producing Superchargers across the board and have yet to introduce a turbo engine on any vehicle in the US market).

Toyota knows what they're doing.

If you want to lessen the reliabilty and increase the required maintenance of your truck (which both greatly impact the cost of ownership) email magnusson http://www.magnusonproducts.com/ and ask them to develop a supercharger for the 3.5L. I'm sure they'll be happy to take your money. I'd recommend before buying a supercharger though you make sure your brakes are adequately upgraded and run some calculations to ensure the drivtrain components can handle the added torque/ forces which it will exert on the system. In other words, its just not as simple as plopping on a supercharger from a design perspective.

 

I'm glad I waited to get my 16. Now I have to decide if it's worth it to get the Pro. I'm leaning more and more towards getting it.

 

He said they can't make it work with the Atkinson cycle. That's horse shit. He also tried to explain how the fox free floating, internal bypass shocks worked and pretty much made masturbation gestures. He brags about "mudding" in his trucks, think's drum brakes are "better in the sand", and a whole slew of other crap he's not qualified to talk about. He's a rambling idiot.

 

The AutoLSD button does exactly what you are talking about in 2 wheel drive.

Several sources have said this and THIS is what we are talking about. But by now, I don't believe it to be true.

You forgot about the seat belt brackets

 

The first problem with this whole arguement is that the 2016 Tacoma does not have an Atkinson cycle engine.

The 2GR FKS simulates an atkinson cycle by holding the intake valve open well into the compression cycle.

Knowing that supercharged engines work best with slightly retarded valve openings (the extreme opposite of the 3.5 Tacoma engine)please explain how you would prevent the supercharged 3.5 from constantly backfiring through the intake.

I don't think Swears is an idiot by any stretch, I am certain that he is more interested in marketing than engineering however.

 

Just because he is the design lead doesn't mean he knows everything. He is the boss so he pays the engineers to do the work.

If superchargers or turbochargers decrease the vehicles reliability, why did they do it on both the 1st and 2nd gen? Which both seem more reliable than the 3rd gen with some of the problems they have been having. (I know it is the first model year)

Plus you get a warranty with the supercharger from the factory...the point is everyone else is developing superchargers for their top wnd models or offroad why cant toyota do the same?

I would be all over that trd pro if they offered it. It is a heavier vehicle, they already went down on the displacement atleast give us a supercharger. Just my .02

 

Complaining on a public forum isn't going to get you a supercharger or turbocharger from Toyota.
So if you don't like the product offered, do not buy it. It's really that simple.
Toyota isn't going to have a problem selling the limited number of TRD Pros they manfucature and at the end of the day, it's about selling all the vehicles made at the highest price possible for them.

Ford is coming out with a mini raptor in 2018 in the form of a Ranger SVO.. Jeep is also bringing a midsize pickup truck to market to compete in the segment. If you're patient, you may see Toyota do something they otherwise wouldn't to maintain their market share in the offroad performance segment... there's just no need for them to do it right now from any angle you rationally look at it.

 

I believe that the next Tundra will get a Turbocharged version of the 3.5L engine. The question is if they do in fact build a Turbo 3.5L. Will they offer it in a Tacoma?

 

I put down a deposit on a 2017 Trd pro mt cement at my local dealer today. The Toyota rep was there while I was there and the salesman and Sm talked with her before writing up the offer to purchase, they didn't know anything about the Trd pro. The salesman said the Toyota rep said they wouldn't be able to place an order for a pro, they would just have one being manufactured allocated to them. He said they could request color and manual but no guarantee. They could also try to trade with another dealer for their allocation.

 

Anyone got spec on suspension parts? Same length LCA UCA or just new coil??