CARVERSAL

There are high chances for a all-new generation of the Toyota Fortuner asToyota has released full details about the all-new Tacoma pickup truck that will go on sale in North America. The Tacoma is equivalent to the Hilux pickup that is soon going to launch in India as well.

Design Cues

The New Tacoma gets sleek and squarish headlamps with slim LED DRLs, a large grille with “Toyota” written in its center and a tall front bumper with faux side air vents below the headlights. It will get black trim on the nose in lower variants and will get chrome elements on the front, side and alloys in the higher variants. The Tacoma’s profile is oriented with boxy proportions and its rear is integrated with a new bumper design with C-shaped tail-lights.

The Tacoma’s rugged variants are The TRD Pro and The Tacoma Trailhunter which gets the “Toyota” lettering at the grille instead of its logo. These variants also get unique skid plates on the front, LED daytime running lamps and chunky wheel and tire setups with black and bronze finish on them.

Platform

The Tacoma will be based on Toyota’s new TNGA-F platform that will also be carried over to the Indian models as well. This platform also underpins non-Toyota cars like the Land Cruiser 300 and Lexus 500D due to its advanced features.

The Next-gen Fortuner and Hilux are also expected to be underpinned by the same TNGA-F platform. This platform uses high-strength steel throughout its chassis to improve rigidity and consists of an aluminum upper portion that helps reduce the weight of the vehicle.

Engine and Specifications

In terms of its powertrain the Tacoma get four engine options:

• Standard 2.4L Turbo Petrol 4-cyl producing 231 hp and 330 Nm of Torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic.

• “I-Force” 2.4L Turbo Petrol 4-cyl producing 274 hp and 420 Nm of Torque, mated to a 6-speed rev-matching manual.

• “i-Force” 2.4L Turbo Petrol 4-cyl producing 282 hp and 42 Nm of Torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic.

• "i-Force Max" Hybrid 2.4L Turbo Petrol 4-cyl packed with an electric motor and a 1.87 kWh battery pack with a total power output of 326 hp and 630 Nm of Torque. It comes mated with an 8-speed automatic only.

The Tacoma gets RWD as standard with a limited-slip differential on entry-level variants, 4WD with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case with low range as optional in its mid-range variants and its top-spec model offers a full-time 4WD drive as standard with a center locking differential.

Conclusion

Well the Tacoma is not expected to come to India but, Toyota could bring the hybrid powertrain to India in the Next-gen Fortuner and Hilux, with just a bit of adjustment in their power outputs. This will ultimately help them to decrease the Fortuner's current price as it would justify to the restrictions provided by the Government for SUVs.

It's not sure that Toyota would continue with the Diesel powered engine but, if they do, they'll do it. Here's how - Toyota will bring up the Diesel powered engine but with a hybrid technology and not only this, Toyota will also bring in a petter Petrol engine as a saviour for the Diesel - as Diesel's future is very dicey in India. This petrol engine will be marketed much  more than the Diesel and it will also be placed in a superior way to get it sold more.