Last night my friend (who's a toyota master mechanic) gave me a call. We were talking about all kinds of Toyota stuff. Then he tells me that a friend of his who is an industrial welder just got back from working on the new upgrades for the Tacoma Plant. Anyway he saw the new trucks and say he really likes them. But Now for the NEWS!

It looks like toyota might step up and put the Tundra V8 into the tacoma!

No absolute confirmations on this but he says they are looking to compete with everybody else.

Anbody else heard any of these rumors or can confirm?

 

That would be cool. It can certainly fit since the 4R has it.
It would kill Tundra sales in it's tracks though...

 

Well the Tundra will be available with 3/4 and 1 ton running gear/suspension soon. Maybe even diesel...

 

Shoot if they do offer the Taco with the V8, then it is certainly goodbye to my 94. I will either sell mine or proceed to turn it into an off-road only beast. It would be difficult to get used to wheeling a brand new Taco the way that I wheel my current rig though.

 

Yeah as completely unconfirmed heresay, a friend told me that they were putting out the Taco with V8 and 5 sp manual. I'd have a hard time resisting that.

 

If this is true, I may have just found a replacement for the 4Runner for towing duty in the future. If they come out with a 4Door diesel... i'd be in line in a couple years I bet.

 

Because Toyota makes all their diesel engines and they are into competing to be number one over Chev, GMC, and Ford (oops they already beat Ford) I bet they will have the diesel out in the Tundra in the next couple of years.

With a turbo diesel the gas mileage would be outstanding.

 

sweet sounding... how much you think these would run with a 8 in them.. new v6's are what like $25k or somethin

you think they would be up in the mid $30k's?

 

Man I hope not. You can get into a 4runner for 30-32k.

 

I think that they need to get a bigger V8 for the Tundra before they go throwing a V8 into a Tacoma. The sales for the Tundra will drop dramatically.

If the Taco comes with a V8 then that will be the next truck for my wife.

 

Anyone heard anything on the FJ40 re-deaux? That vehicle, with a 5 speed and a diesel would get me to buy a new Toy. Otherwise, I'll just buy a used 80 series LC, FJ40 or somethin else...Not to bust anybody's chops, but I'm just not impressed with anything Toy has out right now...

 

From what I read over at tacomaterritory, Toyota brought a 2005 DoubleCab V6 (245hp) to the Tahoe Take Over event (last weekend??). Had a 6 speed manual transmission and locking rear diff. Transfer case is operated by a dial instead of a stick. Suspension very similar to 2004.

 

Like the previous post said, Toyota brought a 2005 out to the TTORA Takeover event and showed it to the guys and gals. Toyota says it will not be offered with a V8 and they have never seriously considered it. 6 spd manual sounds good though.

Ground clearance is said to be very close to the current model.

No, I wasn't there due to other commitments, but I trust the sources of information.

 

As Travis mentioned before... putting a V8 in the Tacoma would kill the Tundra. Toyota has better business sense than that.

It would make more sense to introduce a V8 after the Tundra goes through changes and not before.

 

Yeah, that's why a S/C will be available. Is it just one engine or will they still offer it with a 4-banger?

 

So in other words, it'll be lower than the current ones...

 

Of course...they were having troubles with rollovers from goofy drivers who think it's a sportcar.

What ever happened to natural selection?

 

I'm not so sure...some people just want a bigger truck, and if you want to tow/carry heavy loads a full-size truck would still be better.

A V8 Taco would def. be a road-rocket tho.

 

Do you think its the high center of gravity or the dimensions of the current Taco that's causing these rollovers? I think its the latter. So it looks like the '05's will be wider and wouldn't this solved the rollover problem, at least to some degree? But apparently they think it wont be enough so its going to be lower.

 

Quoted from one of the posters at tacomaterritory:
Å

"The fenders are just like the new 4-runner, with large plastic fenders flares... that are just about in the right place to be cut for making larger wheel well openings.

The locker is still there, although the 4wd is now the electric dial on the dash, no stick for the xfer case.

Double cab will have an available 6-speed manual... Weeeeeee.!!!

Suspension setup in front is simular to the new 4-runner, with the rack and pinion in front of the suspension and up higher instead of behind. Looks like same coils, a-arms, as now, but not verified.Å CV's are a new beefier type it looks like, the inner tulip has been replaced with what could be a full CV joint, shafts are thicker. Same front diff as we have now, so ARB's, etc will fit.

As for the dash, it's very close to the new 4-runner look.

Engine is the new 4.0 VVTI 245hp V-6. No word on a v-8.

The only realy bad thing I saw on it is the crossover for the exaust hangs below the tranny now instead of up and over, and at least on this prototype it hangs even lower than the xfer case crossmember. It's going to be the first thing to get smashed.Å Already came up with a fix for it - dual exausts.. 8-)

Otherwise, the front was very well protected, looks like the radiator was moved higher, beefer skid plates, and the rack being moved forward and up out of the way. The tie rods did look a bit thin though.

Rear seating on the double cab is bigger. Storage compartments built in behind the seats, nice big center console. Rear bed is a new composite type, with storage built into the sides and adjustable dividers.

All in all, except for the stupid crossover pipe, I liked it and wasn't disapointed with it."