A key component of the success of any new model introduction is timing, and Toyota certainly has that down for the debut of its 2022 Tundra, which it offered up a teaser look at this week.
Describing it as the “future of Toyota trucks” the company released a 10-second video of the truck in silhouette with the lights suddenly coming on to show the front end of the truck surrounded by fog, showing a dramatically different look for the new truck.
What the company doesn’t reveal in the quick flick is any information about when the next the truck will emerge from the smoky darkness for all to see. However, some reports suggest the new model could make its debut before the middle of next month.
Needing an update
Domestic automakers dominate full-size pickup truck sales in the U.S. Although Toyota’s produced a capable product, the company’s never really curried enough favor with truck buyers to challenge the competition.
Despite a significant update on the 2019 model, sales for the Tundra have fallen each of the last two years. This is problematic since the company sells a fraction of the full-size pickups of its competitors, Ford, Chevrolet/GMC and Ram.
Ford sold nearly 800,000 F-Series pickups in 2020. Toyota sold 109,203 Tundras — a 2.2% drop — compared with 111,203 pickups sold in 2019. That number is a 5.6% decline from the ear they sold 118,258 vehicles in 2018.
Special edition models
The automaker’s tried to get some attention with several special edition models, including the Nightshade version, which features a blacked out grille, wheels and other components. It also offers a TRD Pro model clad in a slew of off-road components making it rough and ready.
The Tundra TRD Pro model got a new color for 2021: Lunar Rock. It replaced Army Green in the TRD Pro color pallet. Other colors include: Super White, Magnetic Gray Metallic and Midnight Black Metallic. Additionally, the maker offers the Trail Special Edition with an emphasis on extra storage, convenience and unique styling.
The truck is powered for 2021 exclusively by the 5.7-liter i-FORCE V8 engine that offers up to 10,200 pounds of towing capacity and a maximum payload of 1,730 pounds. It’s available in Double Cab and CrewMax four-door cab styles.
