Toyota Tundra
Toyota's littlest truck, the popular Tacoma, gets a brand-new, full-size big brother in 1999, called Toyota Tundra.
While it may appear that Toyota has grafted one of its sedans onto a pickup truck, in actuality the new Toyota Tundra, Toyota's first truck with a V-8 engine, does indeed have four doors, with the two rear doors opening from left to right rather than right to left. The result is a nifty, comfortable, easy way for four or five to get in and out of the cab, called Access Cab, and still have a large flatbed following along behind.
Although it won't arrive at dealerships until May 1999, Toyota Tundra's appearances are already creating great interest. It will be the first Toyota vehicle launched in model-year 2000 and the first pickup of the 21st century. Dealers are enthusiastic, and at car shows crowds collect to open and close the rear doors, which have outside handles, thanks to customer demand.
Toyota considered the T100 a specialized intermediate truck and has now retired it (1998 was its last model year) to make way for the new Toyota Tundra which is larger and more substantial.
"This is our first real full-sizer," said Toyota spokesman Sam Butto. "We have built up a great reputation with our compact trucks, but research told us that our buyers want a big, sturdy truck with a big engine, and the capacity to tow and haul more, so in addition to the standard V-6, we are offering an optional V-8. With the Toyota Tundra being built here in America, we can offer better value. Prices will be comparable to Ford's F150 and the Dodge Ram."
The V-8 engine is a 4.7-liter, double-overhead cam, 32-valve; the first offered in this truck segment, it delivers 245 horsepower and the industrial strength of 315 foot-poundst of torque. You will be able to haul nearly a ton, and pull 7,200 pounds, depending on the model and level of equipment. Toyota credits the V-8 engine with exceptionally high fuel economy, but has not announced figures yet.
Dual power outlets, a passenger air bag cutoff switch, dual captain's chairs or a front split-bench seat, removable tray, cassette or CD storage, twin cup holders and other conveniences are among a variety of configurations the Toyota Tundra can be ordered to fulfill. These include two- or four-wheel drive, an 8-foot or 6.5-foot bed, and a two-door regular cab. Confident of success, Toyota is building 100,000 Toyota Tundras for sale in 1999.
At the other end of the spectrum, the little Tacoma, which was redesigned for the 1998 model year, continues along its merry way as a carryover for 1999. It was first introduced in the United States in 1964, and called Stout, then Hi-Lux, then CY. The sixth generation of the compact truck was in 1995, when it became Tacoma, a Salish Indian word for the mountain that provided water to their tribe.
Within the Tacoma two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive lineup is a series of off-road PreRunner models, a term taken from the name of the vehicle that drivers use to pre-run an off-road race course, saving their real race vehicle for race day. There are eight equipment and special packages in this series, developed with the help of Toyota race driver Ivan "Ironman" Stewart, that can include sliding rear windows, chrome plating, four-speaker AM/FM ETR/CD, 15-inch steel wheels, over-the-rail bedliner, black overfender, rear differential lock, tachometer and special badging.
Two engines are available: a 2.7-liter, four-cylinder in-line double-overhead cam, 16-valve, and a 3.4-liter V-6, double-overhead cam, 24-valve. Both are cast-iron blocks with aluminum alloy heads.
Tacoma trucks can tow up to 5,000 pounds with the V-6 engine, and 3,500 pounds with the four-cylinder engine. Toyota's full lineup of vehicles for 1999 also includes three sport utility vehicles, the Land Cruiser, 4Runner and RAV4; three sedans, the Camry, Avalon and Corolla; a brand-new sports coupe, the Solaria; a minivan, the Sienna, and the Celica series, which includes a convertible. The Tercel has been phased out for 1999.
The Washington Times November 27, 199 Amadio, Jill
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