4.0 DUAL VVT-i ??

Imagine you could have a cam for low end torque, a cam for mid range power, and a screamer cam for high end power, all in one. That's sorta what VVT-i is. It adjusts the cam timing as the engine revs (or as I understand it) so the cams open the valves at the optimal time for air to come in, and for exhaust to get pushed out. This helps increase scavenging. Now if you do this on just the intake (single VVT-i), it helps power & tq obviously. Do it on both the intake and exhaust (dual VVT-i) and you get even more power, and an even flatter torque curve. Not only that, but when coupled with modifications that assist breathing like headers, mandrel bent exhaust, intakes, you technically should see an amplification of these mofications even more so, in comparison to no VVT-i. Not only power & tq though, but also engine efficiency, period, is gained, which means better MPG.

The one thing that is missing, which has been pointed out is direct injection. I think we could see that on Toyota engines in the next decade. It's already seen on a few Lexus engines. This would mean even more Power, TQ, and especially fuel economy.

The one thing that has impressed me is how Toyotat has cut costs by building engines that are competitive in multiple segments. Instead of building one engine for one car, one engine for one SUV, and one engine for one truck, they'll build an engine, like the 5.7, that they use in a bunch of vehicles, for example, the Tundra, Seqouia, Landcruiser 200 series, and the Lexus LX470. The 3.5 liter engine found n the Camry is also found in the Sienna, highlander, Rav4, Venza, & Avalon, and a more hopped up version of this engine is found in several Lexus vehicles. This cuts R & D costs (other then to adapt the engine to the different vehicles) and makes things simple. Unlike GM which currently offers 5 engines in their half ton line up alone (4.3, 4.8, 5.3, 6.0 and 6.2) compared to the Tundra which has just 3.

So what is why it baffles me why Toyota will have 2 - 4.0's. I like to live by the K.I.S.S principle.

 

Just curious, do you own a Tacoma?

 

My apologies - I'm a soon to be Tacoma owner (although it could be a Tundra). But let me clarify myself a bit more. I come from a Toyota family, famly member has worked at a dealership for more than 15 years, and we've mostly only ever owned Toyotas. I've owned 3 Toyota's - my first car, an 84 Corolla, a 93 Tercel I had for 5 years that was a great little fishing car for rivers, and then I just sold my first Toyota Truck that I had owned for 4 1/2 years with over 200,000 miles. I had a '93 Xtracab Pickup, 4x4, 3vze V6, that was awesome and never missed the beat in the time I owned it. I sold my '93 Pickup to my uncle who has a '95 Pickup with about 320,000 miles on it as he figured his '95 was getting towards the point where he might want to retire it as his main ride and get something for in town but he couldn't picture himself being in another truck than what he owns and since I got a kid on the way it was a win win situation (I need something with 4 doors for my next truck). Brother has a '96 4runner with about 280,000 miles on it, my mom has a Rav4 which she has owned since new with about 263,000 miles on it.

I personally think that my '93 will always be light years ahead in toughness and build quality (i.e. fully boxed one ton frame), it being the last Japanese built pickup for the Canadian market (they stopped building Toyota Trucks for the Canadian market in '95, they stopped building Toyota trucks for the USA market in 91-92) to the newer Toyota Truck I end up buying, but I do know Toyota is still light years ahead of the domestics, no matter what study or BS report they end up posting. I also think the new TAcoma's are also a much better, more well rounded truck - a bit more comfy, more powerful, more creature comforts, better tower, people mover, etc. Basically watered down pussified versions of the trucks Toyota sells around the rest of the world.

So to answer your question, I don't own a Tacoma, no, I apologize I shouldn't have stepped on your toes. But I know Toyota trucks quite well as they run in my blood.

 

My Toyota truck runs on the road...

 

Maybe they are testing the durability & real world performance by just putting it in those vehicles. It may be put in the Tacoma when it gets a redisign in 2013.

 

Yep! Its already out in the new Infinitis. No throttle body and the intake flow is controlled directly by the intake valves!

 

I betcha that part of this delima maybe an issue of improving epa fuel mileage on Passenger Cars vs Trucks.

 

I think it's more like "want's to continue to fuck with us!"

It reminds me of a saying my brother says all the time (he's in the auto parts biz)... "China's been at war with us for the last 15 years and we don't realize it!"

 

Well, while I don't understand either why the 4runner and FJ Crusier have more HP and Daul VVT engines, what if the reason they aren't spending so much time on upgrading the Tacoma's V6 it because they're wanting to stick a V8 in it that will smoke the other mid size vehicles? That probably won't happen but.. It could explain the lack of effort in updating it's V6 engine.

 

or a turbo diesel