Toyota has been quietly providing a sneak peek at the next-generation Toyota Tundra to a handful of dealers and members of the media in recent weeks. Now that one of those retailers leaked out an image of the truck, Toyota has decided to release the first formal image of the 2022 Tundra.
There’s good reason for a dealer to get excited. The current Tundra has been around for an unusually long period of time, coming to market all the way back in 2007 and getting what was a relatively modest update for 2014. Its key domestic competitors, the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500, have gone through several complete makeovers during the same period. Even the Nissan Titan had a long-awaited remake in 2016.
“Some people don’t know how to keep a secret,” Toyota said in a tweet with the first official picture of the new 2022 Tundra.
Images leak out
The truck pictured in Toyota’s pic was nearly identical to the one in the leaked image, but for color. And, based on a number of details, appears to be a TRD model aimed at off-roaders. One of the most intriguing features is the light bar built into the truck’s new and significantly enlarged grille. The leaked images also show a TRD Pro tailgate. The official image also features 18-inch wheels shod with Falken off-road rubber.
There are plenty of questions to be asked about the next-generation truck. For one, will it be offered with more trim levels and body styles than the outgoing Tundra — and, in particular, in heavy-duty form? Detroit brands like Ford, Chevy and Ram offer seemingly endless variants that allow buyers to precisely match their needs and desires, something analysts believe have allowed the domestics to retain dominance.
Powertrain options make up another matter of speculation. The current Tundra offers a base 5.7-liter V-8 making an acceptable, if not overwhelming 381 horsepower. It’s widely expected that Toyota will lift a page from the Detroit playbook with an expanded series of engine options starting with a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6.
New powertrain options to include a hybrid
But there are growing expectations that a hybrid will be offered, as well. That should come as no surprise considering Toyota was a pioneer in that technology — and the fact that it has repeatedly laid out a goal of “electrifying” essentially every product in its portfolio. Meanwhile, it has watched Ford get a leg up by launching a hybrid version of the latest-generation F-150.
If a hybrid is in Tundra’s plans, will it match Ford’s strategy with the PowerBoost and offer a built-in generator that can provide power at work and camp sites?
While Toyota still isn’t offering any official details about the next-generation Tundra, the official release of this pic will clearly resonate with current owners and potential buyers. Until now, they’ve had little to go on but for spy shots, rumors and a short company video that revealed an unspecified engine cover with the words “iForce Max” stamped in. That appears to be the name Toyota will use for its hybrid powertrain.
Pricing is one of the other details we’ll likely have to wait to have revealed. The current Tundra model starts around $36,000.
