Patent leak of the new Tacoma submitted to Brazil's INPI office in January. Image: INPI
Although tipped to reveal more details next week, Toyota will officially unveil the eagerly awaited all-new Tacoma in the United States on 19 May.
The model that will provide the biggest indication yet of what to expect from the next generation Hilux due in 2025, known information includes the Tacoma joining the Sequoia and Tundra in receiving an i-Force Max hybrid powertrain and retaining the six-speed manual gearbox.
Stylistically, as indicated by patent images leaked in Brazil at the beginning of this year, the Tacoma will draw heavily from its mentioned siblings, including once again offering an off-road focused TRD model.
Inside, the mirror image is set to continue from a cabin design perspective, meaning the availability of an eight-inch or optional 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, steering wheel taken from the Land Cruiser 300, significantly upgraded materials and a thoroughly revised assortment of safety and driver assistance systems.
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As is known by now, the Tacoma’s biggest influence on the Hilux, besides is external design, will be a product amalgamation for the first time since 1995 when the Americanised Hilux, then known as the Toyota Pick-Up, gave way to the market specific Tacoma.
Underneath, the TNGA-F platform that debuted on the Land Cruiser 300 and its premium sibling, the Lexus LX, will provide the Tacoma’s foundation as it currently it does with the Sequoia and Tundra and soon, the next generation 4Runner, Land Cruiser Prado, Hilux and Fortuner.
Unlike the newly released US-spec Ford Ranger, the General Motors twins that are the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, and the sibling of the Nissan Navara, the Frontier, the Tacoma will be offered as either a double cab or a cab-and-a-half known as the Access Cab, whereas the Hilux will continue to sport a single cab, Xtra Cab and double cab bodystyle.
As the i-Force Max nameplate indicates, the Tacoma will become available with a hybridised engine for the first time, but unlike in the Sequoia and Tundra, with four instead of six-cylinders.
The unit in-question, which will replace the long serving 4.0-litre V6, is the new T24A-FTS 2.4-litre turbo that develops a combined 273 kW in the Lexus RX 500h. The sole transmission expected is a uniquely tuned six-speed automatic.
As a replacement for the base 2.7-litre engine, the Tacoma will adopt the same 2.4-litre engine, but without the hybrid system and availed with the mentioned six-speed manual or an optional eight-speed automatic that replaces the current five-speed self-shifter.
Similar to all current Toyota and Lexus products using the engine without any hybrid hardware, in the Tacoma, the forced-assisted four-cylinder will produce 205kW/430Nm. Rear-wheel-drive will be standard and four-wheel-drive optional depending on the trim level.
A further possibility is the all-paw gripping Tacoma getting the same Multi-Terrain Select system with Crawl Control as the Tundra.
As for the Hilux, Toyota is anticipated to possibly avail make a petrol engine available, but will again focus largely on diesel motivation by retaining the existing 2.4 GD-6 mill and the carrying over the mild-hybrid 2.8 GD-6 that will come to South Africa next year in current Hilux as well as the next generation Fortuner.
Also rumoured but not confirmed or even comment on, is the GR Hilux that, should approval be given, replace the 165 kW GR Sport as the most powerful Hilux ever made. However, this hasn’t been set in stone.
Once revealed, expect clearer details about the Hilux to become more apparent in the run-up to its 2025 premiere.
NOW READ: Preview of next Hilux starts as Toyota teases all-new Tacoma
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