Presented in 1999, the Tundra model quickly won many different awards due to its reliability, quality and relatively low price, and has since been in good demand in the United States. Concern Toyota Motor has become a pioneer among Japanese brands, who ventured to enter the American market of full-size pickups. The secret of success is that Tundra does not go against the market, but combines the best qualities of American and Japanese cars. Production was established at TMMI plant in Princeton (Indiana). The Tundra is located between the Ford F-series and the Dodge Ram 1500 series pickups. The car is unified in design and styling with a full-size Toyota Sequoia SUV.
Toyota Tundra first years of release was equipped with either a 3.4-liter V6 (190 hp) or a powerful 4.7-liter V8 (245 hp). In 2003, the restyling of the entire Tundra range was carried out: the grille was replaced with three horizontal strips (in body color or with a chrome-plated finish), bumpers and lighting fixtures were changed, the interior was refreshed. In addition to the basic versions with short (Regular Cab) and one-and-a-half 4-seater (Access Cab) cabs from the fall of 2002, they offer a version of the Stepside Access Cab with steps in the sides of the cargo platform to facilitate loading.
Cabins are offered in the Base, SR5 (sports) and Limited versions. The design is traditional: strong spar frame, independent front torsion bar suspension on double wishbone and rigid rear axle on the springs. On the all-wheel drive version 4WD, a part-time transmission is used, all-wheel disc brakes are equipped with ABS. Drive - rear or automatically connected four-wheel drive with a 4-mode transfer box Touch Select 4x4. The basic package includes cruise control, air conditioning, electric windows, mirrors and driver's seat, immobilizer, central locking, alloy wheels.
The options include an audio system with 6 speakers and a 6-disc CD changer. The seats fold 60:40 and are equipped with a folding armrest. After modernization, the range of engines has changed. The power of the 4.7-liter V8 has increased from 245 hp. up to 271 hp A new power unit of 4.0 liter V6 / 236 hp has appeared. Transmissions: 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic. In 2006, a new generation Toyota Tundra debuted at the Chicago Auto Show. Concept FTX, presented at the Los Angeles Auto Show, served as the basis for the serial version of the pickup.
The car has become much larger and has found rude forms. The new generation differs from its predecessor by a huge chrome grille, a massive front bumper and enlarged headlights. Design though controversial, but impressive.
According to the designers of the Californian studio Toyota Calty, which created the exterior of the car, they had a goal to create a real American “truck”. And Tundra, as a matter of fact, is as such - after all, this pickup is fully developed in the USA, and produced there. The new generation Tundra has grown significantly in size compared with its predecessor, the length has increased by almost 25 centimeters, reaching a value of 5.8 meters.
The height of the new pickup is 1.95 meters, the first generation was lower by 12 cm, and the width reaches a record two meters. Now Tundra is one of the largest in the class, and one of the most spacious. Cabin three options - standard, one and a half and double. The increased size allowed to make more cargo platform, and in exchange demanded more power. Especially for the Tundra, a new V8 engine with a capacity of 5.7 liters and a power of 381 hp was developed. According to American tradition, it got its own name - i-Force.
Work in tandem with him will be a new six-step "automatic". In addition to the new engine, the braking system was equipped with heavy-duty front brake discs and four-piston calipers. In addition, now all versions of the new Toyota Tundra are equipped with rear disc brakes. Improved cooling system and many electronic systems will allow you to tow huge loads without any problems even in the most severe weather conditions.
Tundra destroys the stereotype that a pickup car is by definition purely utilitarian. Toyota has equipped its model with all modern means of comfort - leather trim, a powerful JBL audio system, a rear-view video camera and a driver's seat adjustable in ten positions are offered as options. New Tundra is available in 30 different versions. A model is being assembled at American factories in Toyota in Indiana and Texas. Its main competitor is the most popular pickup in America - the Ford F-150.
At the Chicago Auto Show in 2013, Toyota introduced an updated version of the Tundra model. The development of the car was engaged in the American division of the auto giant. The projection works were done in Michigan, they were engaged in design in California, the assembly is carried out in the USA (San Antonio, Texas). Dimensions and specifications remained the same. No structural changes in the design of the frame or chassis, no additions to the existing configurations of the wheelbase or the cabin, as well as no changes in the line of power units were noted.
The car has undergone major changes in terms of design of elements of external and internal equipment, as well as in terms of introducing a large number of option packages. The car comes with three cab options: a two-door standard cab (Regular), a four-door double cab (Double) and a four-door with an increased number of seats (CrewMax). Each version is available with a drive for both two and four wheels. Standard and double cab models come with standard (78.7 inches) or long (97.6 inches) trunks, while the larger cab comes with a 66.7 inches trunk. All trunks have a depth of 22.2 inches. The back door is locked, easily lowered and quickly removed.
The most obvious changes made by Kevin Hunter, Lead Designer, are the introduction of a larger and more angular front grille and the replacement of some elements in the front end of the body. The new grille consists of three separate parts, the design of which is aimed at giving the front of the pickup a more aggressive look, aided by both enlarged wheel arches and modified headlights. In the design of each of the wheel arch extensions, designers have invested more characteristic lines so that the profile of the pickup truck becomes even more delineated.
As for the "stern", there appeared a new rear flap with an integrated spoiler, as well as the Tundra logo, "stamped" on the metal of the tailgate. The most serious changes affected the interior of the Toyota Tundra 2014, significantly improved the ergonomics of the car. The driver now has easier access to the controls of the audio system and climate control. Gone are the hollow-tube measuring instruments that have been an integral part of this pickup since it was commissioned.
Their place was taken by a completely updated, more modern instrument panel with a centrally located display for displaying multi-data. For the comfort of passengers, the front and rear seats were also modified and modified by air conditioning. In addition, the front passenger seats can now be moved further, and the rear seats in CrewMax are folded to provide additional cargo space. 4 shades of interior are offered - beige, sand, brown and black. The car is offered in five trim levels: SR (base), SR5, Limited, as well as two new complete sets with packages of premium options, one of which is called Platinum, and the other - 1794, designed in the style of the "Wild West".
By the way, the year 1794 is the year when the San Antonio ranch was founded, where the plant is now located, where all Toyota pickups, including the Tundra, are manufactured. The SR and SR-5 configurations have 18-inch wheels with steel rims, while the Limited, Platinum and "1794" models have new 20-inch alloy wheels, customized for each package. The basic equipment of the SR is equipped with a 6.1-inch touch screen Entune with Bluetooth. The SR-5 adds chrome-plated bumpers, a chrome-plated radiator grille, and an Entune 7-inch touch screen audio system, as well as satellite radio.
The Limited option has a unique mesh grille, chrome-plated rear-view mirrors and handles, leather seats, wood inserts in the doors and on the control panel, adjustable front seats in 8 positions and their heated, premium Entune audio system with navigation. The “1794” package cultivates the “Western” theme, demonstrating the embossed leather trim using suede. This package includes the JBL audio system, which consists of twelve speakers, heated and ventilated front seats, a navigation system, monitoring of blind spots and a rear-view camera.
Several purely mechanical improvements deserve special mention: reconfiguration of all damper valves, providing the opportunity to provide better handling and quality of off-road driving, as well as modification and strengthening of the steering system, which allows for stable steering control when driving at both high and low speeds . Toyota Tundra 2014 is equipped with time-tested engines. Standard engine for Regular Cab and Double Cab models is a 4.0-liter DOHC V6, with 270 horsepower and 278 Nm of torque with an automatic five-speed transmission in front with a CVT. This is followed by a 4.6-liter DOHC i-Force V8, with a capacity of 310 horsepower and 327 Nm of torque.
The most powerful in the line is the 5.7-liter DOHC i-Force V8, with a capacity of 381 horsepower and 401 Nm of torque. Both latest engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
