4th generation - timing? details?

no one has a crystal ball

the truck + utility market is engineering getting out models ‘ hybrid ‘ or fully electric !!!!

power.......range......driveability unknown for vehicles like a Tacoma / Tundra

its a good bet ford / chevy will attempt to ‘ Beta ‘ test models with consumers

to better give them Direction / Thrust for marketing + sales

the line in the sand 2030

 

Hope you all like the looks of the new Tundra, because we're about to get more of it.

https://jalopnik.com/toyota-keeps-its-updated-tacoma-truck-tests-under-wraps-1847800863

 

Here comes the coil spring rear suspension.

 

And rear discs. At least this truck has them.

 

Yup, judging from the front end angle pic it's going to be a baby 3rd gen tundra in resemblance... not sure if that's good or bad yet

 

I'm not thrilled personally - I recoiled in horror when seeing the new Tundra. I will admit I did the same with the 3G Tacoma but I've grown to like the look of it nowdays.

It almost looks like they made the hood larger? WTF

 

That's a typical response to a new generation truck, look at what happened over at Chevy, their new Silverado was a serious shake up when they unveiled it, I still think it's ugly personally, but their sales haven't been impacted by the design.

I actually like what they did with the new Tundra, and imo it's a huge upgrade over the outgoing truck. But the tacoma has really perfected perfected rugged and capable truck styling with the tacoma... the ol don't fix what ain't broke mantra, I just hope they don't ruin it... then again, wife says I can't get a new truck for 10 years anyway so I guess it doesn't really matter for my garage

 

time 5:45 ...mated to an 8 speed automatic transmission.

Here we go again

 

10 speed same as the tundra
With hybrid and phev

 

I'm sure this isn't meant to be a wishlist thread, but after watching this video on how well a street-oriented RAV4 Hybrid does off road, and reading all about how awesome the Rivian is off road, I'm gonna be very excited for what Toyota could (and should) do for a Hybrid/PHEV version of the Tacoma.



Having ultra-low electric torque and being able to travel further off road without having to burn as much gas, all while having a bigger, bad-er battery on board to help power added accessories would just take this truck to the next level. Take the RAV4's system and beef it up some more, while being able to essentially use 4WD/AWD on all surfaces (rather than just dirt/snow/slippery surfaces) would be a game changer for me. Never mind the inevitable boost to fuel economy, especially around the city where trucks in general really suffer.

And I'm eager to see how much better a coil-sprung rear will be for off road performance.

 

Toyota could always make a mini pickup from the RAV4 Platform to compete with the new Maverick and Santa Cruz.

 

They could (and should!). The A-BAT concept from the late 2000's shows they have at least though of it before. I'm sure if the Santa Cruz and Maverick do well, they'd jump right in.

But I don't want that to be an excuse to keep from innovating in the Tacoma. By no means should the Taco be purely a Hybrid/PHEV, but it should absolutely be an option and they should really go a little further beyond what hybrid trucks have done so far. Especially if they want to convert people.

Last time my Taco was in the dealer for some work, I asked for a hybrid loaner and got a Corolla. I was seriously impressed with both the economy and performance of that car and it shook me a bit. I love my Taco, but money in my pocket is money in my pocket. Ford and it's Maverick have been very tempting since they announced it.

 

I know it’s not as easy as it seems in my mind…but it doesn’t seem that hard to do considering the modularity of newer vehicles. Give it a 5’ bed and an access cab and call it a day. And make it cheap and sell a bazillion of them. It’d be the perfect second or third car, especially if it weren’t that pricey.

 

Any scuttlebutt if Tundra's boxed frame will carry over?

 

Ford is getting a ton out of the Escape Platform as it also is the base for the Bronco Sport and the Maverick so it seems like Toyota could use alot of off the shelf parts and a RAV4 Platform to make a mini truck. The only challenge would be to keep the price far enough below the Tacoma so they wouldnt lose any sales.

 

WTF? If that is not a Tundra, WTF is it then? Lawd have mercy, it's too damn early, but not out of the question either, as it isn't necessarily official either via marketing teases. It's at least casually spotted by a normal observer and anything can test without the knowledge of professional spy photographers, both on and off proving grounds.


Where were these photos even taken and when? I want to say 2022 Tundra, but maybe that can't be right if it's recent. Toyota committed to design work on the 920B Tacoma program early, so if they are ready to be running them, then they must be confident about the early exposure.

A refresh for 2023 doesn't make sense, as that doesn't show up anywhere at all. Only 920B does and it's a MY 2024 vehicle. All engineering personnel related to 920B, reference it since 2017-18 and TNGA-F. I did very deep research, I was going to keep mum about. Anyone interested, please PM me on what I have seen regarding 920B aka 4th generation Tacoma. I don't like posting it, for outsiders to grab and repost without consulting me.

Honestly, I was supposed to disappear and take a 2-5 year posting sabbatical, yet this shows up a few days later...

I have been industrywide, following next generations and lifecycles of key products in virtually every segment, so I am just exhausted mentally, especially as COVID has messed up a lot of it and left me chasing my tail on what's coming and when. Work is hard enough as it is, let alone examining the rest of the industry for 10+ years with a close lense, from Audi to Toyota in my personal time.

Toyota had the final body for the Tundra by early 2018 and started testing mules wearing the front and rear of it by December 2018. We saw those in the form of the January 2019 spy shots. Months later, the full thing and no sight of it until late 2020. Now, they are launching it in December 2021, a whole 3 years later for MY 2022.


Toyota could easily trot out 920B prototypes, if design freeze already happened several months ago and the first prototype units are assembled, ready to drive about. This is just crazy though and I have never seen anything like this from Toyota honestly, in my 16 years of observing their prototyping methods. Them allowing anyone to see something that early...wow! Two full MYs out in final design, as not typical of Toyota. Are even 2022s even being delivered at this point?

This can't be a 2024 Tacoma (sic) and if it is (highly likely it is), Toyota have weirdly moved it forward earlier than planned or got caught unexpectedly testing it 2 years ahead of launch, which naturally they wouldn't permit it in most circumstances.

No one saw anything until last week, on the next Sequoia and it was merely a casual observer spotting it in Plano. Not TFL, not any media. A casual observer, catching it just before launch. Let alone, this 2 years early?

Toyota must have a vested interest in milking this, if they are willing to interrupt Tundra launch coverage and hurt sales of the current 3G truck, by trotting any 920B program 4G prototypes, to the degree the public will notice it and report on it fast. I mean WTF? I am a bit confused here.

I want to investigate this further, as I can only rely on my own industry intel from industry databases access or directly from Toyota people, who know better than I would. If not a Tundra, obviously a Tacoma. And this just wouldn't be a refresh.

The journalist at Jalopnik is an idiot, as redesign =/= refresh. Abit, the guy who took the photo did his part at least. You "refresh" your face by splashing water in it. You redesign your face, by getting plastic surgery. it's quite stupid, when professionals state BS like that and confuse people. I cannot foresee any capacity, how this is a refresh. The 2016 Tacoma was 989A Program from 2011 to 2015, while the 2020 Tacoma refresh was designated as 625B from 2016 to 2019. The next gen is 920B since about 2017.

After signing off from posting originally, I have heard and seen 3 dates for 920B Tacoma of Q3 2023, September 2023, and December 2023 at TMMGT and TMMBC. For 2023 Tacoma, only October 2022 shows up. Not convinced it's the redesign, as almost everyone working on it says 2024 and that hasn't changed at all. It was listed on another red and black slide (secondary one) as "2023", which vanished and I couldn't archive. Only Sequoia and 4Runner under 2022 (latter got delayed thanks to engineering changes) and Tundra under Q4 2021.

Also now see next 4Runner listed for January 2024 Job 1, but can't see future Tahara production unfortunately to confirm production there too. Sources independent of me, say CY 2024 for 4Runner and Tacoma is still in CY 2023 as a 2024. If this is it, very good news. Anyone else is welcome to speculate, as I don't get what I am seeing.

 

I just want to give a shout out for how much I love these overly detailed, professorial posts that dot all the i’s and t’s right down to using “[sic]” for misspellings and “sabbatical” for your time away from your Tacomastudents. Please only make it nine months if Admin. grants you your sabbatical this year; our minds are rough blocks of modeling clay just waiting to be shaped and made scalable.

 

It's Jalopnik, that's a given lol.

What I am confused about and maybe someone can answer is this, why are all the wheels missing their center caps? I'm sure there is a reason for it, I just don't know what it is.

 

100% true about Jalopnik.

In some testing, they will add sensors for much more precise measurements.

 

That's what I was thinking, thanks.