Talk of Tacoma powertrain upgrade from head guy at Toyota US...

LOL pretty sure everyone on tacomaworld, and in the whole universe called it on the hybrid

 

The market is people who want trucks but don't have/want the space of a full size, the cost of a full size, or the maintenance of a full size. Tacoma's sell in record number because (a) they're Toyota, and Toyota is a leader in durability and reliability, and (b) they produce a city friendly truck in a size that's easy to park, can run to Home Depot and the dump, and the buy in cost is affordable.

If you think the Tacoma market isn't people who want a car but need a truck bed, you're misplaced.

 

It's true! California is working on legislation to ban all gas vehicles in 10 years. Gas vehicles will be dinosaurs in the near future. What could be better...electric 4x4 Taco?!

 

GM hybrids are garbage. Toyota is the leader in Hybrids.

 

Why didn't they put in a 8 speed transmission to begin with? Would have been cheaper then to develop 2 transmission.

 

Just said in response to "it'll take balls to release the first hybrid pickup."

It's already been done, and died.

For a midsize truck I think it'd be far better received, it really isn't that attractive on a full size with the significant extra expense and minimal return, particularly now with the fuel efficient V8s and small displacement turbo motors.

 

Ford is coming out with a Fullsize Hybrid soon. They will make a better effort in development then GM's lacklustre effort.
I can see Toyota coming out with a Hybrid Tacoma and Tundra.

 

^^^^ This SOOOO this!

I don't buy vehicles by the pound or foot.

It's a city friendly truck that can haul Home Depot, pull my boat and can go further offroad than any cross over. My wish is the opposite - if they had true Tacoma Limited - like in King Ranch, Laramie or High Country trim, I'd happily pay $50k. A full size won't even fit in the parking garage at work.

 

I got 19.9 mpg overall lifetime (150K+) in the 5th Gen 4Runners I owned. I am currently getting around 21.9 mpg overall in the 3rd Gen Tacoma after 12K miles. Right around a 10% increase, which is huge, seeing that I have the same basic HP and torque and close to the same weight.

 

Evolutionary change is much more acceptable than revolutionary change in pretty much every aspect of life, vehicles included.

 

10% is huge, especially over that high of a life span. Seems like the stock third gens are getting a pretty good boost in mileage, also seems like once they're modded they're dropping down to roughly the same economy as the prior gen trucks with similar mods. But, I could be wrong - I stopped paying attention to that after the 2016 release.

My buddy had a 2017 Tacoma DCSB loaner with the 3.5 and auto, and I drove it about 40 miles. I thought it was a hell of a nice daily driver with that configuration and it really made me miss my truck, despite being too small for my needs. I did find the largely complained about engine lag/power lag when taking off from a stop or need a sudden burst of speed to be pretty evident in the truck I drove. That, I did not like at all.

For casual driving though, it was great.

 

There is nothing revolutionary about offering a 8 speed transmission when your competition is already offering 8 speed transmissions.

 

Agree with everything, but the buy-in price. Tacoma's are the same if not more than a fullsize. Toyota doesn't do incentives on the Tacoma, while the domestics do. You can buy a NA V6 fullsize with darn near the same capacities as a Tacoma V6 for roughly $25K..where it is going to cost you $30K+ for the Toyota.

The dirt bag model SR Tacoma doesn't seem to sell as well as the upper trim models. Never thought I would see the day of a $40K+ Tacoma, but it is here..and they sell 'em!

 

I meant buy in as both purchase price, lifetime cost to own, and residual value.

A Tacoma is far cheaper than any domestic full size, especially after 10 years of ownership. That full size resale drops like a rock in comparison, at least in California. Overall expense is less, is the main point with "buy in."

 

tree hugging comments aside, here is that same graph as a percentage of cars being HEV: So just over 2 in every 100 new car sales are a hybrid or electric. That's not a lot.

 

Ahh got it.

I don't really care about resale value since I run them into the ground, but long term reliability of the domestics doesn't want to make me stray from Toyota.

Really like the specs of the 2.7 Ecoboost F150 (other than the auto tranny), but wonder how well that thing is going to be after 10-15 years of ownership. The auto trans and turbos would be big expenses when they are out of warranty.

I dunno, fullsizes seem to hold the value on the used market here. As I have been looking at used fullsizes. Just about everyone owns trucks in my area. In Boise the cars out number the trucks it appears, but seems isolated to that area...rest of the outlying towns and state...mostly trucks.

 

You have to think about your target demographic - new customers plus current customers. It was risky as hell going from the 4.0 to the 3.5. Going to the 3.5 AND the eight speed is more change than they thought their customer base could bear, so they did the engine first. A few years ago and even today, the Tacoma has no real competition, as evidenced by the staggering sales numbers and residual value. What tomorrow is bringing is why Toyota is preparing for now.

 

Well, for fun.. my 2013 Tacoma was totaled in February of this year. It's value depreciated $400 since I bought it new and drove it for 58k miles. I paid $24,800 for it brand new, and $24,400 was the market replacement value. I had a lift, shell, wheels, some LED lighting on it.. I got paid out just shy of $30k.

I went shopping full size trucks and planned to put down $10k on whatever I was buying. First year depreciation on the F150 Super Crew I was looking at ordering was $12k, so after the first year my down payment was depleted in lost residual value. I keep my cars, also.. but losing all my equity in a vehicle within 12 months was a hard pill to swallow. Got a 4Runner instead.

 

Is that why they haven't updated the Tundra drivetrain for 10 years? Because they think the customers can't bear the change?
A 8 speed transmission would have been a welcome addition.

 

France and England to ban non hybrid gas and diesel powered vehicle sales by 2030 IIRC , lots of other countries will follow suit

Its coming whether anyone likes it or not