Toyota powers up its Ford F-150 rival

Toyota is giving its Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 rival even more grunt.

A new TRD Performance Package for the Tundra, available in the US from early 2024, will bump up outputs for both the standard 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 and the i-Force Max 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 hybrid.

With the standard engine, power is boosted from 290kW at 5200rpm to 314kW.

Peak torque is unchanged at 649Nm, however it comes on sooner at 2000rpm. Toyota says this broadens the torque band and significantly improves power delivery at throttle tip in – better pickup for the pickup, then.

i-Force Max models with the package get a bump in power from 326kW to 350kW. Torque is unchanged at 790Nm.

To free up these extra horses, Toyota made both hardware (increased airflow to the turbochargers) and software (recalibrated engine management) changes.

The TRD Performance Package also uses larger, higher-flowing dual intakes coupled with a higher flowing cat-back exhaust and unique tips.

Unique throttle tuning also promises a sportier feel from the burly Tundra, as well as a “menacing” exhaust note.

Toyota USA says models with the package will require 91 octane fuel, which is considered premium there.

Besides the exhaust tips, the only visual cues to identify a Tundra with the package are unique badges.

The package adds an extra US$3400 (A$5288) to the price of a new Tundra, and will be offered across the range. Toyota is also working to offer a dealer-installed option for existing Tundra owners to update their trucks and have it factory-backed.

Toyota says it’s considering expanding the package to other models in the near future. The related Sequoia seems a likely candidate, as does the smaller Tacoma – particularly considering the latter was just shown at SEMA in hot X-Runner concept guise.

The company has still yet to officially announce an Australian launch for the Tundra, but it is remanufacturing 300 examples from left to right-hand drive as part of a “real-world evaluation and validation program”.

Toyota Australia vice president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley said customer testing is an “essential stage before full-scale production can be approved”.

“I stress, this is a test and a trial. This vehicle has not been marked for launch in Australia at this point,” Mr Hanley told media earlier this year – before admitting “we’re not doing this not to bring it to production”.

Toyota won’t be selling the vehicles outright, and will instead offer “an attractive full-service lease … that recognises our need for customers to provide feedback through the regular dealer check-ins”.

“To help us choose the most appropriate drivers, our dealers will contact potential customers and provide us with a shortlist for final selection based on location, occupation, and planned usage,” Mr Hanley said.

The first prototypes will be delivered to customers between December 2023 and April 2024, although there are some cars already on Australian roads.

Toyota Australia announced in August 2022 an “extensive program is underway to re-engineer Tundra” for right-hand drive in partnership with Walkinshaw Automotive Group, which already re-engineers the Chevrolet Silverado for GMSV, and the Ram 1500 for Ateco Group.

Toyota said it would draw on “key components” from its global parts catalogue, including the steering column and rack, pedals, and shift lever from the right-hand drive LandCruiser 300 Series with which the Tundra shares a version of its TNGA-F platform.

The first batch of Tundra right-hand drive test mules feature the hybrid powertrain.

MORE: Everything Toyota Tundra