Interesting Mike Sweers interview

http://www.autonews.com/article/201...ck-translator-mike-sweers?X-IgnoreUserAgent=1

 

From reading this, it sounds like Toyota is trying to do too much with a simple vehicle (I am including all trucks and suvs in this statement). "Once in a century change" "faster change than you've seen before" "need to get tech into the trucks"....

They might have improved some things, but they totally messed up the engine and transmission, they added tech people don't want, and refused basic stuff people do want (electric seat adjuster).... I don't know. I am not impressed with how this all reads. This guy bragging he's never been in a prius, but he also doesn't seem like he is doing a great job in trucks either.

It is definitely a good article and gives us some insight, I am just not sure I like where Toyota is heading... It seems like the focus is too broad, and we need to narrow it back down. A big issue with that though is that they want the Tundra to compete with the big 3, and the big 3 keep jamming tech (that always breaks) into their trucks...so Toyo feels like they need to also I guess.

That said, the electrified trucks should really get a bunch of the "OMG MPGS ARE MY LIFE, I NEED MORE MPGS ON MY TRUCK" crowd here pretty excited.

 

One area not discussed in the article was diesel engines for the NA market. Nissan will soon release the next-gen Frontier with a diesel. If Nissan can do this, why can't big T?

 

Ford is putting one in the ranger too.

 

It’s getting a tiny ecofail

 

Is it only their none NA versions that are getting it/ already have it then?

 

Foreign market has the diesel. As of now the US market gets the ecofail

 

Good to know, I thought I heard rumblings about a diesel for it, but I guess just internet rumors.

 

Rumors for sure. Ford is being sued right now for misrepresenting the emissions of the F2-350 so don’t expect a diesel ranger anytime soon

 

nothing to see here......
keep moving people!

 

Yeah, well, that's just like your opinion, man.

 

This engine runs best when you drive it like you stole it

 

I see that he misses his V8. I guess he doesn't drive a Taco.

 

This is true.

 

Blah blah blah... go buy a Ford bro... why all the hate? totally bro totally.

 

Buuuuuuuuuuuutttttt - they are selling the shit of em - so believe internet dude or Toyota dudes??

Chalk not wanting electric seats in a truck.

 

Came from a ford, overall very happy with the truck. I think they could have done better on a few things. I am personally happy with it, but I'm not a fanboy who isn't going to acknowledge issues (or what I think are issues). I am mostly hating on the perceived future direction they are taking, not as much my current ride.

The toyota dudes on the toyota enthusiast site you are currently on are the ones I'm talking about complaining, have you checked the boards? Anyways, I get not everyone will agree on what should be in a truck and what shouldn't be, in regards to things like electric seats. I do think they should make it at least an option when they crammed all the tss stuff in there. If you are gonna be hi-tech, be hi-tech don't half way do it. Again, just my opinion and I don't think everyone or even most will agree with what I think.

 

So the Tundra, 4runner, Sequoia and Tacoma will ride on the same platform in the future? That's pretty cool, Nissan did the same with their trucks and it makes for some really interesting OEM upgrades. You can swap Titan control arms onto a Frontier/Xterra for a cheap long travel setup or even go all out and swap in a 5.6L V8.

 

A lot of owners here want a luxury vehicle in a truck, great gas mileage, low end torque, high power, a lot tech like Apple play shizzle, power leather seats, telescoping wheel, disc brakes, and a shit ton more and for it to run flawless forever with no issues for $30k something dollars.

And they have no issues with plastic bumpers! Haha

 

With the decreasing tensions between CAFE regulations and automakers, we should be seeing more SUVs coming into the market.
Hopefully, this new Tundra will display a new V8 because it seems like sweers is saying we rice out the truck for fuel efficiency.