Talked to a Toyota manager about the 3rd Gen

So which is it? according to this picture top right its on the right side and then bottom left its on the opposite side? Most of the pictures I have seen have it on the left.

 

Yep, until we see the actual production model its up in the air along with many other things.

 

Interesting, in an interview I watched with swears he said it had a new 8 3/4" rear axle and now an optional 4.30 gear ratio. But your right we will just have to wait and see.

 

I didn't hear the interview. So guessing thats the case if he stated that just looking at the pictures see a lot of similarities.

 

Could be just for our cousin up north of the border.

 

With all the fines, lawsuits, investigations, and so on making the government get involved in stuff more, I think 5 year development is pretty impressive. It likely breaks down this way:

* 2 years of brainstorming, generalized discussions, and testing out some of the 'out there' ideas.

* 2 years of trying converge ideas from the various teams and systems towards getting a unified "feel" for the truck.

* Finally, 1 year of scrambling to work out software bugs, manufacturing plans, meet deadlines for safety testing, prep the lawyers, etc.

The final 6 months that we're in now before release to market is all about keeping manufacturing going smooth to build up initial launch inventory.


Or so I'd guess anyway based on my experience in product design (although I've never worked automotive so could be way off)

 

I don't think I'll call the engineer a liar until he's proven to be one, but I think his seatbelt comment might have been a little tongue-in-cheek.

In any event, here's a link for a video from TFL Truck, where in, they pretty much confirm that the Tacoma is "all new".

I'm sure many will think they're just Toyota fan boy employee double agents, but I'll take Toyota at their word for now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWxc541ONIQ

 

Im not calling him a liar, but just a seatbelt bracket? Thats a bit of a stretch. I can point out at least a few things just from pictures. Its a great truck and Im trying not to bash, but Im also not gonna sugar coat or take everything out of toyotas mouth as truth. The people that love the new truck are so hard to admit any faults or possibilities and the people that are hating the same. I wish we could all just come in the middle and constructively talk about the truck and the facts. And only a seatbelt bracket is not the truth or fact.

 

The tfl guys are the worst auto reviewers on the planet. This is how I feel watching their reviews.

http://youtu.be/P2V0OxLBv9E

Terrible.

 

Terrible and painful indeed.

 

When it comes to Toyota/Lexus's trucks/and or truck based vehicles, I've noticed over the years that they tend to keep the same body style for 6-10 years on average. The 1st generation Tacoma, for example, ran for almost 9-10 years('95.5-'04). The last generation or the 5th generation Hilux('88-'97) ran for about 6 or 7 years here in the US. According to Wikipedia, production on the 5th gen Hilux continued on for other parts of the world until 1997. That is a 9 year run.

If I am not mistaken, the 2nd gen Lexus LX 470 remained in production for 9 years('98-'07). Also I just learned the old Land Cruiser J60 ran from 1980-1989.

 

I think the competition determines to some extent how often refreshes or major updates happen. And in the mid-size truck market, nothing much happened for years. The Nissan Frontier is also still the same as it was in '05, Ford and Dodge quit the market. I'm glad GM updated their trucks, or Toyota might have waited a few more years. Hopefully GM updates their trucks again in 5 or 6 years, just to get Toyota moving.

 

Why Is everyone so bent outta shape if there are carry over parts from 2nd Gen? Everyone loves their 2nd Gen right? So even if some parts are leftover shouldn't you second gen guys be happy ?

 

Gm doesn't update as often either, s10 was basically on the same chassis from 1982-2003 and first gen Colorado ran from 2004 to 2012 with only minor tweaks along the way. I never understand why Tacoma gets bashed so much for running the platform 10 years..it's not uncommon to do so.

 

If it ain't broke...

 

I agree, people love there Tacoma's so why depart from that? What Toyota has done is take the 2nd gen and improve upon it. I know swears said only a seatbelt bracket carries over but you can clearly see I pictures other parts that do as well, bed tracks, steering wheel, battery hold down etc. It doesn't bother me just don't tell us everything is completely new when we can clearly pick out carryover parts.

 

Wrong. The center console opens centrally in 2016, not from the driver's side only previously.

 

Yeah but you know people would still find a way to complain like it's the same color like the 2nd gen or it's too far back.....

 

I stand corrected.

Now let me complain until my throat grows hoarse about how having it flip in that direction is a problem