Engine Options for the tacoma?

id have to disagree. i like having a bigger truck, but not going fullsize.

Maybe the tacoma can get smaller and then toyota can introduce the hilux!

 

That would be fine, they just need to make a small size again.

 

could someone explain what Dual VVT-i is/does exactly...

 

4.6L V8 Would be ideal. The 2nd gen Tacoma is proportionate to the 1st Gen tundra therefore it shouldn't be an issue. The 4.0L is a powerful engine but i think the added power of the 4.6 would outweigh the disadvantage of a VERY SLIGHT drop in MPG.

 

I don't have anything to add here in terms of durability, because this is spot on. But an additional point - what would Toyota get out of including the 5.7 as an option? All of the R&D, testing, etc. that would go with this, all to simply take sales away from a Tundra? Despite what 10% of the 1% of Tacoma owners that are on this site think, the 5.7 would not sell well enough in the Tacoma to justify it. That's why you have different classes of vehicle. You want to tow so much that you need a 5.7 liter V8 engine, but want smaller? Fine, get a Tundra Double Cab (not CrewMax). If you're going to be towing that much and need the power, you're going to be just as, if not more, thankful for the larger truck and stronger frame the Tundra offers.

 

All aluminum and with 50% more displacement, meaning in all likelihood fluid capacities would increase, adding weight there. Whether or not the engine mounts in the taco frame can handle an additional 150lbs. is an another question.

It's just stupid. The Taco is so light you'd spin half that extra power out of the rear wheels and be buying tires every 10,000 miles. The nose-heavy, power rich configuration would be perfect for people to get the truck going screaming fast, then hit a pothole or bump in the road, dig the nose on a top-heavy vehicle and start rolling.

The 5.7L makes no sense in this vehicle. For it to make sense, you have to modify the vehicle so extensively it's easy to make the argument it's not a Tacoma anymore. You could *make* it work with less, but it'd be a half-assed, slapshod job that didn't use any of the components to their potential.

Upping the horsepower numbers would likely require shifting the torque curve higher up in the rev range. I'd rather have the torque earlier, torque matters more for trucks anyway. People are hot to trot on turbo-diesels with like 150 hp because the torque numbers are so high and arrive early.

The added weight and power for towing wouldn't be a very welcome addition without a new frame.

You're right on the gas mileage being better than a Tundra, but it would still be worse than the 4.0L at equal revs. More cylinders, more valves, more gas.

 

I love voices of reason in a thread like this!

 

x123456789

One of the most common factors I see in this forum, as great as it is, is a poor understanding of how changing one component in a vehicle changes so many factors that other components are engineered and designed around.

 

True, but I'd be more than willing to bet the V8 handles a heavy trailer much better than the I-5. A light tow vehicle is much more apt to be pushed around by the trailer it is towing. I wasn't talking about being able to tow more with a V8, just tow at the upper limit of the Tacoma's capacity more comfortably.

 

oil is already high in the I4 at 6 liters. nothing to add there. maybe an extra gallon in the radiator. maybe a little bigger radiator. maybe a little more transmission fluid. but still, lets say it added 200 lbs. i'm still not conviced you would have to add a ton of weight.

and yeah, it would be overkill just like a super charged V6 or a vette, or a F150 with the upgraded backage, or the ram with the upgraded package. not really usefull, but still cool and fun.

 

^^
4.6L V8, Access Cab, Factory long travel, Raptor killer.

 

See, that's the thing though, it really WOULDN'T be fun until you changed a lot of other things, because otherwise you wouldn't be able to turn that power into things that matter, like acceleration.

Pony Cars, Supercars, and roadsters all have relatively large engines (compared to size) because they have suspension, tires and weight distributions designed for that type of engine output. It's all engineered together. Trucks do not, especially not swapping something as monstrous as the 3UR (which is, technologically, the most significant leap forward for V8s since the Hemi) into a mid-sized platform meant to do half as much of all things.

 

Hahahah Amen to that!

 

x2, well said!!

 

When my 4.0 dies I am stuffing a 4.6 or 4.7 tundra motor in it. There's not much hp difference I think 40hp more but it's the displacement I want for towing.

 

yes, you have to make changes, yes, you have to beef up parts, but it's not that big of deal. beef up the front suspension (a arms, shocks, springs, sway bar), transmission, 3rd member, and rear suspension. mabye add a rear sway bar. bigger brakes, rims and tires. yeah, it'd be a little more weight and cost, but it would a pretty bad ass truck.

but i agree, i would prefer that performance in a car. the trucks wheel base is to long to do anything but straight line. it's so friggen tight in the corners.

 

Hilux's 3.0L D-4D / Optional

 

i think its nice to hope for a V8 in the tacoma but i dont see it ever happening. with toyotas reputation for good gas mileage, i dont see people other than truck enthusiasts celebrating a "gas guzzling" engine in a "small" truck.

most importantly though, it would definitely impact tundra sales as less people who want the V8 would justify the added expense of a tundra just to get one. itd be a delicate balance with low towing numbers at best

i do think a special edition with a 4.6L V8 would be something thats possible. maybe a new x-runner or something (maybe even supercharged). or a famous person edition (like the ivan steward tundra) but that would certainly carry a hefty premium

 

Hilux's 3.0L D-4D / Optional
My ex Dodge 4x4 Cummings diesel auto regular cab got 20-21MPG towing or whatever.

 

Diesel would be the way to go. Its more efficient and produces better performance all around.

Hopefully a TOYOTA Rep. is looking at this poll maybe they can offer it in their new truck in the future. I know over 25 of my friends would grab their keys and head for a trade-in if the 3.0L D-4D was offered even as an option.