Preview: Toyota Tundra
Toyota recently hosted a brief media preview of its new Tundra pickup. A few of my Consumer Reports colleagues (Jim Travers, Gabe Shenhar, Tom Mutchler) and I took advantage of the nearby venue to hear more about this vehicle and have a stint behind the wheel. I previously wrote about how much Toyota has invested in bringing this truck to market (see "The Texas truck two-step"), but here are some raw impressions and observations from our time listening to the Toyota folks talk about the new truck. Following these ramblings are a few basic vehicle specifications.
Random thoughts:
The event was held at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT--a historic venue known for hosting concerts, plays, and entertainers since 1954. Now called the Chevrolet Theatre thanks to a sponsorship deal, it seemed like a curious choice of venue for Toyota to show off its new truck--especially with a brand-new Chevrolet Avalanche stationed at the foot of the driveway. But then again, maybe there's nothing curious about it as Toyota makes its move on this last, and most thoroughly American, of the domestic segments that it has yet to conquer.
The presentation was held indoors with the trucks (Toyotas, that is) surrounded by a number of work-type detritus and tools--a none-too-subtle emphasis of the whole "work truck" theme. Problem was that none of the tools were dirty or looked like they were ever used.
The presentation included a photo of a Tundra carrying a couple of dirt bikes, and it got me thinking: why doesn't Toyota build motorcycles like automakers Honda and Suzuki? While they're taking over the world, why not take their motorcycle market shares as well? This isn't a big stretch considering that Honda also makes lawn mowers and personal watercraft. And Toyota actually started out as a sewing machine maker. Anything is possible.
The Toyota talking heads were all dressed like tradesmen, in jeans, work shirts, and Timberlands, all of which, like the tools, looked like they were fresh out of the box.
The corner workers on the 1.9-mile test loop were driving GM minivans.
Toyota is taking great pains to let everybody know this truck was designed and is being built stateside. They mentioned design work coming from California and Michigan, components from Alabama, and the truck being built in San Antonio, Texas, and Princeton, Indiana.
A sales goal of 200,000 units may seem like a modest chunk in a market where Ford and GM each move 900,000-1,000,000 trucks, but that's still, what? A 40 percent increase over the 130,000 Tundras they sold last year. That's a pretty ambitious chunk.
In presenting the Tundra, the spokesman said it was a "300-yard design"--a description just as curious as the choice of venue. Was he trying to tell us the design is distinctive, that it looks best at 300 yards, or both? Hmm.
The largest engine is the "big dog" (Toyota's words) 5.7-liter V8. The 381-hp beast was also described as being "hugely massive," which might qualify it for a repetitive redundancy award.
One of the standard safety features is auto Limited Slip Differential (LSD). During the presentation, Toyota officials encouraged us to witness the "auto LSD demonstration." No word yet if the likeness of Ken Kesey or perhaps some ghost of Oakdale's concerts of the 1960s has been signed on as a virtual spokesman.
We'll be buying our own Tundra shortly and get back to you with initial impressions.
--Mike Quincy
