Toyota Tacoma 2024 launched with Australian engineering

While the fourth generation Toyota Tacoma Designed primarily for the United States, Australia played a small role in the development of the new “midsize” pickup.

ARB, the Australian-based off-road company, has been tapped to develop key components for the new Trailhunter range of vehicles aimed at road enthusiasts. Parts of the ARB also appear on the TRD Pro focusing on desert racing. More on both later.

As expected, the new Tacoma based on the TNGA-F frame-on-frame architecture served as the foundation for the larger version. tundra pickup, Sequoia SUV and 300-Series LandCruiser.

There are two passenger cabin options: the Xtra Cab with two doors, two seats and a large rear storage area, and the Double Cab with four doors and five seats. Both the Xtra and Double Cab models can have a five or six foot (1.5m or 1.8m) tray.

A boxy interior matches the interior. In the lower grades there is a 7.0-inch screen in the gauges area and an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, while higher-end models get a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. and 14.0 inch touch screen.

The basic powertrain delivery is 2.4 liter i-Force turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine.

In the base SR model, this motor generates 170kW And 329Nm. For all other trim levels, the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine will work 207kW And 430Nm when paired with a eight-speed automatic.

Available six-speed manual comes with automatic rev-matching, anti-stall technology and the ability to start with gears, but the engine is tuned to 201kW And 420Nm.

Stepped up i-Force Max and you will be treated to a mixture powertrain with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder paired with a 36 kW electric motor integrated in an eight-speed automatic transmission and hooked up to a 1.87 kWh nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery.

All together, i-Force Max is supposed to produce 243kW And 630Nm.

The rear-wheel drive tacos get an automatic limited-slip differential, while the four-wheel-drive models get an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case, automatic LSD, and active traction control. Various TRD models and Trailhunter levels also have an electronically locked rear differential, while the hybrid version of the Limited variant gets all-wheel drive and a locked center differential.

Leaf spring rear suspension is standard on the lower trim levels, while more expensive variants get a rear multi-link setup. All variants now have four-wheel disc brakes as standard.

There are a variety of trim levels available (SR, SR5, TRD PreRunner, TRD Sport, TRD Off Road, Limited, TRD Pro and Trailhunter), many of which have a strong off-road focus.

Aussie connection is the strongest in Hunteraccording to Toyota, was developed with the ARB engineering team working on site in the US.

As a result, the Trailhunter rides on 33-inch Goodyear Territory R/T tires. It features Old Man Emu all-terrain suspension with position-sensitive 2.5-inch forged monotube shocks fitted with a rear external piggyback-style remote water tank.

Compared to the regular Tacoma, the Trailhunter’s ride height is 51 mm higher at the front and 38 mm at the rear.

There are also ARB rear recovery points, a steel rear bumper and a utility bar with removable MOLLE (Modular Light Load Equipment) panels on the tray bed.

On the options list are light and heavy duty ARB bed stands that can support items such as a roof tent, a canopy or a camping shower.

All of these ARBs sit alongside the standard hybrid engine, heritage grille with Toyota inscriptions, stone rails, multiple high-tensile steel shields, 20-inch light bars, AC inverter 2400W and factory-manufactured overhead air conditioning system. input.

Top range Professional TRD There’s also an ARB’s steel rear bumper with rebound points, but it runs on an adjustable Fox suspension setup with floating Piston crash stops inside.

For the driver and front passenger with IsoDynamic Performance Seats, there’s an adjustable oil-air suspension to counteract seat movement both vertically and horizontally.

TRD Pro has a ground clearance of 280 mm and is also 76 mm wider than the SR5. Toyota claims it has an approach angle of 33.8 degrees, a bend angle of 23.5 degrees and an exit angle of 25.7 degrees.

Deliveries of the new Tacoma will begin later this year in the US, though i-Force Max hybrid models won’t hit showrooms until early 2024.

It’s almost certain that the new Tacoma will continue to dominate the midsize pickup truck segment in the US, but the question is whether it can develop a lead.

In 2022, Tacoma surpassed the competition with sales of 215,853 units. Chevrolet Colorado (89,187) and jeep fighter (77,855) took the podium spots, while the Nissan Frontier (76,185), Ford Ranger (56,987), Honda Ridgeline (42,762) and GMC Canyon (27,821) made the list.