So Toyota is wussing out on the Engine, dang it. 270HP but add gearing

The amazing part about the big GM 4.3 V6 is that it still gets good MPG. Toyota could have modified the 4.0 with cylinder shut off, VVT and whatever else and would have maintained power but with much better MPG.

 

I think the difference there is between better and best fuel economy. Coming up CAFE only gets tougher in it's mpg requirements year after year. Putting in the most efficient engine possible without drastically reducing performance is likely what lead Toyota to go with the 3.5 L displacement.

 

CAFE regs are on the reasons truck prices keep climbing at a much faster rate than inflation. $40 for mid-sized trucks. Who woulda thunk.

 

You would think though that Toyota overall has a higher fleet MPG rating than most other brands. They could probably afford to have their trucks get slightly worse MPG since cars like the Camry/Prius/Yaris/Corolla all get high MPG.

 

we've known the target specs from the beginning... and i expected that they would be close to them.

 

Target specs? You mean the Colorado specs?

 

nope... the targeted specs for the toyota engine.

 

While nothing has been released yet on the new 3.5.
It seems the consensus from different sources is it will have more hp and torque than the current 4.0.

If true, how is that wussing out?

 

Do you think it'll do better than 278 lbs.ft @ 4400 rpm?

 

Toyota does have better mpg, by like 1 mpg over the entire range if you believe some of the articles out there that talk about CAFE. The problem, as I understand it, is that the requirements are going up by ~0.5 mpg per year so having 1 mpg over your fleet only buys you a couple of years. You always have to keep trying to get better. Plus there is a program proposed that would let automakers trade off there excess mpg to another company which could be very lucrative to Toyota if they can keep ahead of the curve.

 

No need for intelligent discussion here. But yes, I think you are right...

 

Toyota was very careful to mention that the new Tacoma will get better HP, towing, MPG but they never threw in torque into that statement. If they were sure it'd get more torque they would be bragging that up.

 

Toyota has 25 billion in the bank .They own all Toyota manufacturing & assembly plants outright worldwide. They are not going to sell excess mpg to other companies ........

 

Why not?

By selling excess MPG for a ridiculous price you force your competition to pay while they try to catch up and innovate. Not to mention it puts your company in control should you make the deal subject to a yearly renewal. For those reasons alone it's a smart business strategy.

Do you know what's funny about money. No one every says they themselves have too much of it, neither does Toyota.

 

I don't know. Its all speculation in articles I have seen.
imo, I hope the engine will deliver better performance that the current 4.0.

 

I'm sure the new Tacoma will be fine. They are improving everything else, why wouldn't they also have an increase in performance.

 

As someone who lives at 5280ft. and regulararly head up over 12,000' passes with two passengers and a load of gear I would happily sign up for 350hp/350tq and good mileage.

 

You missed the boat on this on this one..Mr. Toyoda pays himself 1 million a year / chump change for a CEO in the west..He cares about moving Toyota ahead & keeping it in the top tear of auto manufacturing in the world. His own words ( He no longer cares or worries about money)
I know its hard to understand in the West but that's how it works in Japan.
I wish our family had bought more Toyota stock in the 80s & 90s when it was cheap..

 

That's 2 more cylinders, Corvette Ls1 territory (figures, also 350 cid. too).

 

Mr. Toyoda isn't the reason Toyota wants money. That money can keep you ahead of the competition. Every dollar of R&D gets Toyota one step further ahead, or catching up to in some cases, of their competition. Anyways my point is that Toyota benefits more, even without an exchange program integrated into CAFE, by having all of it's vehicles getting above average mpg under CAFE regulations to protect themselves from future increases already in the legislation.

Too bad Toyota just got rid of the mod that would give you the best results at that altitude.