Diesel Tacoma - Straight from Toyota

My desire for a diesel Tacoma is high, and I know others wish Toyota would make one as well. To that effect, I decided to email Toyota and see what they had to say on the subject of bringing a diesel Hilux to the US, or adding a diesel option to the Tacoma. I didn't really expect a response, but got one within 24 hours and was pleasantly surprised... Read below for the exact response I was given. It in no way says we will get our wish, but I feel the possibility is higher at least. It helps that the govt is going to require cleaner burning and better fuel mileage in the next few years also.

Dear Mr Morgan,

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

I apologize for your concern regarding clean diesel vehicles in the US. As of January 13, 2008, Toyota has confirmed that a new clean diesel V8 engine will be offered in both the Tundra and Sequoia in the near future, but this has been postponed indefinitely due to current market conditions.

In addition, I apologize that Toyota has not announced plans for a diesel Tacoma.

Toyota does not currently sell any vehicles equipped with diesel engines in the United States.

To receive information as it becomes available, sign up for Toyota information:

https://access.toyota.com/

Toyota is committed to delivering low emissions & outstanding MPG through the use of Hybrid Synergy Drive. Hybrid Synergy Drive is offered on Prius, Camry, and Highlander.

While Toyota has not announced plans to introduce other clean diesel vehicles in the US at this time, clean diesel is one of the many environmental and energy diversity strategies we are aggressively pursuing. We are, however, aware of consumer interest, and consistently strive to remain competitive in today's market. Your comments and interest in this type of vehicle have been documented at our National Headquarters, where they remain available to the appropriate departments. We appreciate your input.

Toyota has long been mindful of and accepts the broad scientific consensus that climate change is occurring and will continue unless there are significant and coordinated global efforts to slow the growth of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. Toyota is committed to continued action to address climate change and promote greater energy diversity by increasing the fuel efficiency of our products, developing new markets for advanced vehicle technology and alternative fuels, and reducing the greenhouse gas footprint from our vehicles, manufacturing and distribution portions of our business.

The motor vehicle industry has a responsibility to be part of the solution, but these issues cannot be addressed by this industry alone. US action on both issues must, by definition, be national in scope and involve a wide range of industries and sectors of the economy, as well as consumers.

Toyota is committed to continuously improving the fuel efficiency of our full-line fleet. The centerpiece of our efforts is hybrid technology - - a revolutionary power train system derived from our in-house research and development program. This innovative system is designed to substantially increase vehicle fuel economy and significantly reduce emissions. Toyota hybrid vehicles are over 70 percent cleaner for smog-forming emissions than the average new vehicle and can offer up to twice the fuel economy. Over and above that, hybrid technology is an essential and enabling element of future powertrains, such as plug-in hybrids and fuel cells.

Hybrid technology embodies our core belief that the most effective solutions are mass market solutions. To that end, Toyota sees hybrid technology as critical to the commercialization of future drivetrains. Many of the same components found in our current hybrids are being used in the hydrogen fuel cell vehicles we are testing in the US.

The same can be said for plug-in hybrids, another technology we are aggressively pursuing. It is not a lack of will that is keeping this concept from commercialization. At the present time it is the absence of technical breakthroughs to address the issues of battery technology, weight, and cost.

While fuel cell and plug-in hybrid research continues, so too does our application of advanced technology on “conventional” gasoline engines. We employ a wide array of the technologies on our vehicles, such as Variable Valve Timing with intelligence, 4-valves per cylinder, advanced automatic transmissions, direct injection gasoline engines, and more.

We are also aggressively pursuing clean diesel technology, as well as vehicles capable of operating on renewable fuels such as ethanol and bio-diesel.

Advanced vehicle technology must be assessed and developed in parallel with fuel infrastructure, and both must be implemented in a way and at a time that optimizes broad commercialization of the technology applied to vehicles. If the proper fuel is not available, the advanced technology will fail to achieve the desired result. We need both fully formed technology and lower-carbon fuel infrastructure to come to market together.

Sincerely,

Toyota Customer Experience
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us at http://www.toyota.com/help/contactus.html

 

Just for grins, lets start a list of names of those who would purchase a diesel option Tacoma if Toyota were to release it. I'll be #1.

1. Sonjason

 

sweet

#2

 

id buy one, if the price of diesel comes down

 

Diesel is cheaper than 87 unleaded now in NC...

 

I'm a diesel mechanic and I would damn shure buy one.

 

Fords been sayin that same kinda shit for years, we'll never see it. I don't believe an ounce of it. I doubt the Tacoma will see a diesel engine for at least 7 years, and the Tundra's got awhile I'm sure.

 

Even though they probobly won't it nice to hear they are concidering it Chevy has shelved the project for a half ton diesel. Dodge needs more time apparently. Still no word on Ford. Subaru is attemting a opposed 4cyl diesel. So apparently Diesel is the future

 

not here..i have to fill up tomorrow, so ill look and see what its up to now

 

Sure its the future, but not in this economy for awhile, the guy even said it in the letter to the OP. I'd rather import a Hilux then wait for a diesel Tacoma. Love those trucks anyways.

 

to be honest id rather have a SFA than a diesel

 

I'd buy one. Hello HP!!

 

My thinking has always been that diesel is not subsidized by the gov, therefore is more expensive then unleaded. Is there any truth to this

 

This is true it is not for this economy not now at least and with california emmsions laws being past even the older diesels weithing less than 14000GVRW must have a DPF. I believe the term in this case is tree huggers and liberals. Its quite a bit of work for the mechanic to reenginer the exhaust system and many of the comonents before and the intake and after the turbo to make them reliable once again. I think they are trying to bypass the grandfater clause.

 

No. It's for vehicles weighing more than 14000 gvwr.
http://trailer-bodybuilders.com/chassis/retrofit-diesel-particulate-filters-0210/

It includes any truck that does business in the state, even if it's registered elsewhere.

As for California emissions laws, they're coming for every state:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gfqigfgNjZz-YCGXtHnuqIvB059gD989B0NG0

 

your guy's gasoline is subsidized? that is BS!!! We get the exact opposite in Canada over half the cost of fuel is tax (supposedly) We do have "dyed" fuels for offroad and farm use thet are a bit cheaper, but that's because you pay less tax, not because the gov pays some of it.

 

According to a source the attemt is to bypass the grandfater clause for certain vehicles this includes all diesels from the beginings to 2007. An old timer told me that his rig was always pulled over for somthing in california whatever the case was the truck was always givein a citation for one thing or another and cost him more money and down time than it would to drop in a new powerplant.

 

No. Gasoline is not subsidized. Diesel is more expensive because there are more vehicles chasing less diesel. Greater demand and lower supply = higher price.

 

It's kind of funny that diesel is more expensive, because as far as i know, gasoline is a product that is refined from diesel, which means that diesel must cost less to process, cuz there is one less stage in the production of it, yet it is more expensive.

 

I would trade mine in tomorrow ,,,,if they made it.