Next generation Tacoma?

[Moose2]

With the new 4 runner out and the likelyhood of shared things like engines and trannies has anyone heard anything else about what to expect in the next generation?

[NoChevyonlyToyota]

A friend of mine that works at the Toyota dealership I goto said that it should get the v8 engine and will get a new design, He said it would be next model year.... but then again, he has been known to be wrong.... So don't put too much into it!!

[Agent WD-40]

I heard the same things about the V8 and it coming out next model year. I wonder if it will have all the same cool technology as the new 4Runner (drive by wire, the new V6,etc).

[v8Toilet]

Think about it guys. The new 4-runner is still a body on frame 4x4 and it is an all new design. The Tacoma and 4-runner have always shared drive trains. It would be in Toyotas best interests to keep the costs down by designing the new Tacoma based on the new 4-runner frame and drive train. Automotive manufacturers always share as much as they can with mechanicals!

If the 4-runner gets the 4.7-liter v8 and the new 4.0 v6 than this means the Tundra is probably going to get a more powerful v8 with its redesign. It might be the rumored 5.4-liter.

Imagine how quick the Tacoma would be if it was as light as it is now but had the 4.7-liter v8 with 315-lb. ft. of torque. Now imagine that with a five speed manual.

[Agent WD-40]

There could be the 5 speed auto from the 4Runner put up against the V8 Taco... This would probably be the only 5 speed that the Taco sees though. The new 4Runner has no manual option. That would be sweet if the Tundra go the 5 speed auto though.

[pbm317]

While the previous generation 4Runner was tied into the Tacoma, this is no longer true. They have moved the 4Runner off onto a completely separate platform. So they don't necessarily have to share components between the two models. It would make sense though to see the new 4.0L V6 put into other models. I am not so sure about seeing the V8 in the Tacoma. This would bring it too close to the Tundra. I don't believe that either Chevy or Ford is putting V8's into their smaller pick-ups, so Toyota has no real need to. Dodge puts one in the Dakota, but that is somewhat larger than the Tacoma.

[pacodiablo]

The 4.0 would definately be nice in the Taco and put it way ahead of the competition.

I did a rough sketch of what a future Tacoma could look like in math class today, it's not a very good drawing, but for killing time in math it isn't too bad .

[v8Toilet]

Kind of looks like the Ford Ranger/ Mazda B series!

[Moose]

I've heard the same things - that the 4 runner and Taco are going seperate ways, but sharing at least the new V6 and drive train components makes sense, even if the platforms are different. I did read a rumour that the next Taco would increase in size to a Dakota size as is the case, I think with the Sonoma/Colorado change, has anyone heard that?

[v8Toilet]

I still think Toyota is going to use the new 4-runner frame and maybe even some of the body and interior parts for the new Tacoma. The engine and transmission is a given!

It would be very expensive for Toyota to make a whole new frame just for the Tacoma. History has a way of repeating itself

[Moose2]

There is a pretty lively discussion on the next Taco at:
http://www.tacomaterritory.com/ You need to go to messages in the top right of the home page, sign in and then look for 2004 Tacoma in Tacoma talk. It sounds like there is some good info besides a lot of rambling.

[Sequoia2003]

Marketers are the ones running Toyota Motor Corporation, not the engineers!