2012 TACOMA MEGA-THREAD

I made some calls today and here was the verdict:
-Local dealer 1= can order trucks in Sept. and is redesigned
-Local dealer 2= can order in Oct. and minor hood changes
-National customer service hotline= no idea
-District sales branch office 1= Can order in Sept. and info is unreleased on design changes.
-District sales branch office 2= Can order in Aug. and the truck will have new hood, grill, bumper, taillights and interior options such as "entune"?

The verdict was it is not a 3rd gen complete re-design, it will be minor updates. Nobody knew if it would have the new 4.0L from the 4runner and FJ.

 

Interesting info, thanks!

If indeed the 2012's get the new engine, what kind of performance upgrades can we expect?

 

Hmmm. I am selling my '07 in a couple of weeks. Was going to get a new '11 with a few more options I couldn't afford before. Now I think I am waiting just a couple more months on the next purchase. If nothing changes, no big deal; if it does, than I'll have a couple of more choices.

 

Some minor changes with the hood, Entune with remote start that doesn't require you to shut off the truck to get in, and the 4runner 4.0 would be perfect for me.

I would like the powered rear split window or auto rear full window like the Tundra has as well as a six speed auto, but the stuff listed above would be fine. 2012 waiting is getting old, but it will be here soon. It might be the same truck too, but I still like them. It looks like Ford might change the ranger and Nissan the Frontier. Chevy might get a new Colorado too. I saw a video of what looked like a test drive of the new ford. I will post it here if appropriate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROx8TK--aa8&feature=player_embedded

here it is

 

Well, obviously at some point they will have to release info. July 29th sounds as good as any time for me. Everything else is just speculation and no one really knows anything for sure obviously since we are all getting different answers. Hopefully 7/29 will be official.

 

Is there anyone else that thinks that a hood change is a little odd without changing the fenders, headlights and grill? I hope they do change the front headlights to look more aggressive like this photoshop. The current ones are ok to me, but I like the more aggressive look that some of the eyelids (t-rex) give the current lights.

 

I should have elaborated, they did say hood, headlights, grill, tail-lights but I don't remember anything about fenders. They called it a "major-minor" update..? But not a 3rd gen change.

 

This is pretty normal in the car industry. I have a C4 Corvette...from 84-90 they are pretty much indistinguishable externally. Then from 91-96 they redesigned the front and rear facias & changed the taillights but left the fenders & hood the same (& did interior changes as well). If you know Corvettes there is no mistaking an early C4 and a late C4...yet both are still C4s...both still the same generation. (C4s also had several major engine changes during their run).

Heck, even early 1st gen Tacos look significantly different than the later 1st gens.

Hardly a new concept in the car industry.

 

Someone a while back mentioned that maybe the engine in the 2012 will be upgraded hp wise. Who knows?

 

I'm still crossing my fingers for a 6 speed auto

 

From what I've been seeing, it would make sense for Toyota to make some worthwhile upgrades either this year or the next since the Nissan Frontier has been increasing in sales. I've been seeing more and more on the road, but I dont understand why. I think it is FUGLY imho. My brother has one, but the Taco is just so much better looking. There isnt a good looking compact truck out there besides the Tacoma. Ford, Chevy, Dodge , Mitsubishi , then you throw in the Suzuki cloan of the Frontier....bleh.

Im amazed there hasnt been an update to the headlights since that is one of the major changes they did half way through the first gen.

 

The Raider is a Dakota...

 

Considering the Tacoma mileage is so bad, I'd think they'd at least address that before HP.

RZ Rob

 

The introduction of Entune suggests the 2012 Tacoma could be a 3rd Gen because that would require a major redesign to the dashboard.

See my post here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/137340-2012-taco-changes-7.html#post3133495

 

That would be a nice improvement.

 

Yep...that calls for a double heave

 

I would have to disagree with a complete redesign because of the Entune. I dont entirely know how the Entune system will physically come together, but I currently have a 2003 Acura CL Type S with the factory navigation. The type S models that didnt have the factory navi had entirely different climate controls than what my factory navi system had and the dash is different depending on if you have Navi or not. My controls are integrated into the Navi system so if the navi goes out...Im kinda screwed (well not really, just very inconvenienced). Car companies can have modified dashboards for different purposes.

 

oh cool. thanks for the clarification. I really hope this is the case.

 

You may be right. My basis for expecting a complete (dashboard) redesign is this. The curvature of the dashboard "face" is too pronounced for a flat-screen navigation display. They could flatten the radio faceplate only, but that would look ghetto. Also, what happens to the emergency flashers switch and clock?

Here's Entune on a Prius, and it's definitely a flat screen, on a flat faceplate.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/toyota-entune-and-prius-v-hands-on/

Compare those images with the current Tacoma:

 

2 articles just came out today that say, new tacoma by the end of the year:
http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2011/06/all-new-toyota-tacoma-by-end-of-year.html
"but if we're to believe a report from Wards Auto, 2012 will see the debut of an all new truck. Wards is citing Toyota division chief Bob Carter who told the publication that we would see a new Tacoma by year's end"

and
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/06/all-new-toyota-tacoma-to-arrive-before-years-end.html

"But according to Ward’s Automotive, Marty McFly can lust after a new Toyota truck as soon as this year. Toyota division chief Bob Carter told Ward’s Auto that details of the new Tacoma will come “later this year.” Expect the new Tacoma to sway even further from Toyota’s line of small pickups, if the rest of the moribund compact pickup segment is any indication."