2015 Taco should Debut at Chicago Auto Show

As many as they want.

 

Or the utter lack of competition in the mid-sized market to drive any real change...

 

The Hilux is long in the tooth like our Taco. Toyota has to have something up its sleeve. The Tacoma isn't the F150, but the Taco/Hilux twofer means the truck holds a certain status within Toyota.

The decade old Hilux is still battling the global Ranger, the new (international version) of the Colorado, and the Amarok.

Though I'm clamoring for an updated Taco, I do wonder if we should be careful what we wish for. People are still buying Hiluxes over those 3 newer models for a reason...

 

Anecdotally, I've heard lots of big 3 truck drivers complain about the height of the Taco seating and how it's too low and an instant deal breaker.

Toyota has been obsessed with masculating the Tundra, but they really should consider improving searing position in the Taco. It might nab a little more in sales from the full sizers.

 

I disagree. Taco is not full size truck. People already complain that if you take Taco on the trail you have to deal with lenght. Making truck higher means you would have to deal also with higher center of gravity and low hanging branches. If people want to buy Full size (something to tow, and carry loads) than they should stick with that. Tacoma was made to get you to camp site. or your hunting spot, while caring supplies. Squash look means lower center of gravity, If people complain about sitting to low in Tacoma they are in wrong vehicle. What they need is on road show boat.

On the side note. Since Toyota started slowing Hilux production and I think they said they won't be retoolign factory in SA, most likely outcome will be that Hilux and Tacoma will merge again, into one truck sold worlwide. Many parts on both truck are interchangeable at this point. Its only logical to save money.

 

If you have too good product it kills competition. Its competition fault for not understanding what people want, and people obviously want something that can go through woods and don't require a tow truck to get back.

 

2015 is a refresh. The new TRD Pro edition is being billed as a 2015 model package as per Toyotas website

 

At 5'8, I can't speak with any authority outside of the fact that my passenger is 6'2, but the could raise the seats upto maybe an inch and not compromise headroom for anyone not in the NBA.

Toyota is not going to put a sunroof in the Taco at this point, and my only guess is they are concerned about structural integrity since even the entry level PriusC has it available.

Without the sunroof eating headroom, they could, potentially, raise the seats without other changes.

With increased demand for the Tundra, the exchange rates on the Yen, the cheaper labor in Mexico, and Mexico's trade policies with south America, a global Taco out of Baja could be possible but there's no way that plants capacity could feed the western hemisphere.

 

Actually I wouldn't be surprised if that is it. I know they have been seriously considering it, and expected it by now. Changing the engine in some ways is easier than a complete redesign.

 

sorry, but the seating position has long been an issue in the tacoma's. not much to disagree with.

 

I figured Toyota would want engine and transmission changes to be a part of the redesign. That way they would have additional talking points on the new ones. Of course, they introduced the new Tundra and 4Runner with the same engine and transmission as before so maybe not. I do believe that if they updated the engine and transmission to get a little more power and mpg's, they could extend the life of the current generation a few years.