4th Gen Tacoma EV revealed in Japan

Not a firsthand source myself for seeing the actual vehicle, but according to a few at Toyota, this is very much the 2024 Tacoma. Even if the competition can't respond to this and most customers won't be spoiled too early, I never understood what Toyota expects to achieve, by showing it so early. Other than just saying, "yeah we have something coming". From the rather early spy shots to this presentation, this was just very unexpected at every turn, going off of previous programs. They have something to prove I guess and are in a mad rush.

 

Lol, I hear people say Toyota is late to the EV truck game and now they're in a rush. Toyota probably does the most r and d out of any company on the planet. I want it engineered right, not wrong and rushed because social media says so.

 

I do hear that nonsense too, but that isn't what I meant. Sorry, if that got misinterpreted. I meant the current truck that is the Tacoma ICE, they don't want to spare any minute getting to Gen 4. Glad they are not rushing anything EV, as that's not really accurate like people assume. They've been studying that a very long time clearly.

Toyota cleverly managed the Tacoma as best as they could. They began developing the 120-Series frame in 1997 and introduced it in 2002 on that Land Cruiser Prado (120) and N210 4G 4Runner, plus upscaled those vehicles very well, to be good enough to extend it to a Lexus model. I don't know what your opinion is, but a fully loaded Lexus GX470 was a very cutting edge SUV 20 years ago compared to the GX of today. That and the LX, were very competitive at the top in every category.

Toyota was already quietly modifying that 120 basis into a C-channel frame for the Tacoma by 2004. Then further renewed it into the 150-Series basis and managed to only do a Major Minor Change in 2015, while still keeping the #1 spot to date, after a long 16 years uninterrupted! Toyota embarrassingly ended the Ranger's reign in 2005 with that 2nd generation, as the Ranger was a rather outdated toy back then cannibalized by Explorer Sport Trac.

Right now, with what I know about both for the future? It's really going to get heated in this segment and Toyota knows it, so they are preparing the public "to know", without spelling it out.

I honestly want to do a huge thread in each sub forum, asking every original 2nd generation and 3rd generation owner, what made them buy their trucks brand new against the Ranger or other competitors?

 

Stick shifter in a higher-than-base level trim was the ticket for me…. over the Wrangler JL and 4Runner

 

I think I might be leaning towards the new tundra..

 

I was hoping the Tundra Hybrid would a little bit better MPG, at 21 mpg now it's looking like I'll be waiting a couple of years to see what the new hybrid taco looks like.

 

The shit hybrids we can buy are bad bad bad . They are higher gas mileage versions of normal vehicles. They usually come with an electric motor suitable for a rc car and tinny batteries to power it . At their core they are gas engine cars that move the vehicle with All the familiar bull shit most of the time. Need to drive over 30 mph? Only gas engine will
Kick on . Need to go up a 1% grade ? Only gas engine will kick on. The only time you are using the electric motor exclusively is at 5mph in the Costco parking lot for a few minutes a day . Dumb .

now. If someone makes a “hybrid” car / truck that work just like a diesel electric locomotive then it will be great. electric motors only job is to haul ass. They pull electric power from a battery , which gets recharged by a small diesel or gas motor (1.6l). The gas motor will have a gas tank and all , but just kick on and remain at peak efficiency rpm while it recharges the battery only. The gas motor has no role in moving the tires . Just as an electric generator. With this car you can “plug in” and charge ur batteries or use the gasoline to make electric power.. or both . More speed , better mileage , and no need for transmission. If you were even more crazy you would use a small natural gas turbine instead to make the electricity for the batteries. Then full up with CNG.

none of that will happen cuz automakers are comfortable with our ignorance and ripping us off.

 

No. That’s not how it works . What you are saying is Not currently available in Toyota hybrids. Example the RAV4 has essentially a 50hp electric motor. How far and fast do you think u can go with a 50 hp motor in a 4000lb car ?


A more accurate representation of what you are trying to say is:


If you drive below 30 miles an hour and there are no hills you can go for 50 miles on the charge without turning the gasoline motor on


If you read articles or press release statements from Toyota or watch YouTube videos you will never quite understand this simple trick and sleight-of-hand that they pull on you for selling you a hybrid

again :

the all Electric motor that comes with any Toyota hybrid is a small Less than 50 hp motor with less than 20 kWh of battery packs included.

Use basic engineering principles to reckon what true benefit that really brings.

 

You’re describing the rav4 hybrid, not the plug-in version.
The plug-in rav4 has electric motors front and rear that have 230hp together. Overall, it has 83 more hp than the regular hybrid version, and it can drive 84mph in electric-only mode.

 

Another Tesla recall, 45,000 for driving through stop signs.

 

I'm talking about the "plug in" RAV4 and plug in anything sold by any one. Test drive any PHEV , when you accelerate faster than a 1969 VW bus, the gas motor kicks on. Also going any constant speed over 30-40mph = gas motor always on. The PHEV, gets about 45-50 mpg combo (which is not that insane).

 

my basic bitch auto pilot (free one that comes with car) is not meant to stop for lights or stop signs. it will alert and beep but will not break or come to a full stop. Otherwise, it's actually ok on all roads and highways where you are just driving in the lane ( any speed , with or with out traffic). I use it everyday in traffic/commute. It's better than the average US driver , but not better than the average German driver ... if that makes sense.

That FSD (drives anywhere , in all situations) is in "beta" testing (article doesn't say which version it's on). So it's not ready , which is odd how the article frames it as a "recall". It wouldn't be a recall as the software is in testing / development stage still, and not all customers have the right to be the test guinee pig (only people with a high enough Tesla safety score and people who paid the $5-12k extra, and also they have to opt into being a "tester"). If there was an issue it would just update the FSD software "over the air " to the next version (I think we are on v10.9). The "recall" it is referring to is for a mechanical issue with the front frunk latch on some models. So absolutely misleading article mixing issues and terms. Might confuse the poor Boomers out there reading that.

here is FSD beta 10.9 with a random person testing, seems ok to me :

 

I have a Rav4 Prime.



It's fast even as a pure EV. The same drive system is what they put in the new Sienna AWD (which doesn't have the big battery).

 

I know, it sounds awesome. It’ll likely be my wife’s next car.

 

Completely untrue.

Tap EV mode buttan. Mash pedal. Engine will not turn on* (unless you need the heat from the HVAC when it's super cold, or it's trying to engine brake).

30-40 mile runs? No problem staying in EV if you so choose. It's a touch slower (8ish second car) once you're past 50 but it has no problems maintaining highway speeds. And I'm pretty sure I don't drive like a granny either.

96 MPGe (equivalent) on electricity mode, efficient in city on gas but drinks it on highway (I'm averaging 30mpg on road trips but it's a fat pig of a CUV LOL ... Yeah I'm not exactly going limit either)

Also yota was a total bunch of @$%^ for just putting in a 3.3kW charger in most models. Even the 6.6 is kinda eh, but it's only a 18 (about 16 kWh usable) pack..

Also it's great fun using the adapter and plugging into Tesla destination chargers. I did that to a Model Y (took the last charger spot right before they pulled up) and I got some HATE ...

 

This type of hybrid exists. Example: Chevy Volt

 

Oh, pure EV in cold weather is kinda Eh. (I mean extended sub freezing). I mean I have an ICE onboard so whatevs, but EV only range in winter craps out hard. maybe 20% less range when I have the HVAC on (plus gotta warm the battery, etc).

However, it's nice preheating the car while plugged in and not needing to burn a lot of fuel to do so.

The voltec wasn't actually a series hybrid, the ICE can directly drive the wheels. (just like the yota eCVT).

I mean if I was stupid and wanted to waste gas (or had a mountain pass to go over and I couldn't charge for a week, true story) I can park and put the Rav in 'charge' mode and it'll do that too, and then put it in EV mode and go over something on pure electric.. but why would I want the conversion losses?

Engine > wheels is always more efficient than engine > battery > wheels.

The only pure series hybrid I know was the i3 REX, and it's fuel efficiency sucked balls while on gas.

 

New Tacoma looks nice, will have to see the technology come a bit more foreward before I jump in though. I hope they do a good job in making a more corrosion resistant frame to base it all upon. If they do that, more will buy!

 

Do a little more research. . First, read my post correctly. Toyota sells a “PLUG IN” hybrid. What you don’t seem to understand is, the hybrid and the plug in Hebrides both have very powerful motors. The regular hybrid computer limits the battery output so overall it gets good milage with a small battery. The PLUG IN version battery is much larger and the motors can draw more current. Each of the two motors produce 100 plus horse power with a 145 plus gas motor for a total of 305 hp. The power difference is a result of the larger battery. That’s how electricity is allocated.

Now you’re going to say that I can’t add. Wrong, the transmission isn’t like a regular tranny and works by shifting motor priority. You never get all three working fully together. In full electric mode the computer allocates up to about 160 from the two E motors plenty for 40 miles of driving, and up to 305 from all three….do the research…but never the actual total as the planetary transmission doesn’t allow it.

 

Agree…
I would to touch the latest gen taco. It’s just a reworked truck very little different from the previous including a near identical frame. The next gen is suppose to share chassis parts with the Tundra which means a fully boxed frame and not just rear c channel frame. That’s still no guarantee it won’t rust, so it’s still up to the owner to maintain it for rust YEARLY if you live in the rust belt. I bought a 2015 and avoided the new gen on the advice of the dealer. None of the people at the dealership I spoke to thought it was better then the previous gen. They have been a PITA compared to the previous ones ever since. They’re still better then the Comp in reliability respects, but still rust and are just mediocre in performance.