TOYOTA re-visits the full-size pickup market by its introduction of the 2000 Toyota Tundra, a competitively equipped full-size pickup that will be sold in the US and Canada beginning in June 1999. The Tundra will be built exclusively at Toyota Motor Manufacturing-Indiana in the newly expanded two-million-square-foot facility.
The Tundra is offered in a variety of configurations, including two- or four-wheel drive, two-door regular-cab with an eight-foot box, and four-door Access Cab with a six-and-a-half-foot box.
Standard equipment on the Tundra includes a 3.4-liter V-6 engine that generates 190 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque. Additional engine options include the I-Force 4.7-liter, V-8 engine that delivers 245 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque. The I-Force V-8 equipped Tundra is classified as a low-emission vehicle. The V-8 will provide the strength for the Tundra to carry a payload in excess of 2,000 pounds along with a towing capacity of approximately 7,200 pounds.
The V-6 and the I-Force V-8 are available with a four-speed automatic transmission, and the V-6 is available with a five-speed manual transmission for the two- and four-wheel drive models.
All Tundras will be standard-equipped with power-assisted front-ventilated, four-piston caliper disk brakes and rear drums. Four-wheel antilock brakes with daytime running lights will be available as an option on all models.
The Tundra will include as additional standard equipment a locking tailgate, dual 12-volt power outlets, driver- and passenger-side sun visors, and high solar energy-absorbing glass. Standard safety features include driver and front passenger air bags with a passenger air bag cutoff switch, seat headrest, three-point seatbelts in all outboard positions, energy absorbing steering column, and side impact beams. Additionally, the Tundra will be offered in nine exterior colors, with three interior cabin colors.
Toyota plans to build approximately 100,000 units in the first year full year of production. Currently, there is not a pickup-box removal program for the Tundra; however, a Toyota spokesperson indicates that the company will be reviewing long term issues concerning commercial upfitter integration in the near future.