The March issue of Popular Science has two articles on the Tundra.
1. We should see a version of the FTX concept truck sometime in 2006. Okay no big deal right? Well the article says that this truck may even be available in a hybrid version! Can you imagine a Toyota truck that runs on gas and electric power? Crazy. (The new Highlander hybrid is faster than its gas-based counterpart with 270 hp.)
2. Toyota NASCAR Truck. The article talks about how much trouble TRD had getting an engine to meet NASCAR specs. TRD had never even thought to build a pushrod, carbureted, iron-block engine.
Both are good reading.
NOTATION: The thread "Tundra related articles in Popular Science" has been moved from G/C and merged with "Toyota FTX Concept Truck" for better exposure and replies. --- Possum
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I looked at the first model Prius before we picked-up another Camry. I got in but needed help getting out of it because it was so small - I couldn't even close the door!
The new model looks much roomier (though I haven't tried it yet) - but there's no way my wife would drive it the way it looks right now. She's much too conservative for such a mod design, so hybrids will have to evolve from the mainstream before my family will be driving one.
Jeff
Yes, the main drawback with the new Prius, IMO, is its styling. Otherwise I would buy one.I thought that the first model looked much better. It seems strange that Toyota would have to design the Prius to look so odd just to achieve a CD of 0.26 when their LS 430 achieves the same number with classy but conservative styling.
Hopefully Toyota will be offering a Hybrid powered Camry or Corolla soon.
Yes, the main drawback with the new Prius, IMO, is its styling. Otherwise I would buy one.I thought that the first model looked much better. It seems strange that Toyota would have to design the Prius to look so odd just to achieve a CD of 0.26 when their LS 430 achieves the same number with classy but conservative styling.
Hopefully Toyota will be offering a Hybrid powered Camry or Corolla soon.
I think it was to seperate it as a high tech vehicle. It has very "futuristic" internals and I think they wanted that to show through to the outside. I also think that people who buy a hybrid want to have a car that stands out so people know it isn't just another normal car. Look at the sales of the Civic hybrid compared to the Prius. That tells me that people who are looking for a hybrid also want a car that says hybrid by the way it is styled.
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At $2 a gallon it would take 196,500 miles before you save $8K in gas between a car that gets 26 MPG and one that gets 17 MPG.
Don't get me wrong I am a big proponent of hybrids, anything that improves mileage and cleans emmissions is good. Also a hybrid vehicle is likely to sell for more used. Say a gas Tundra was $20K and after 5 years it's worth half then it would be worth $10K. A Hybrid Tundra may be $28K but after 5 years it's worth 50% and it would be then $14K. So the difference then is only $4K and you may well be ahead by that point based on gas cost savings.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike in LA
But, what happens when you double the price of the fuel?
Mike
Originally Posted by Supra
Your formula is not right. To save $8,000 going to a 26 MPG vehicle as opposed to a 17 MPG vehicle at $1.50 a gallon it will take about 262,000 miles ($23,117 worth of gas for the 17 MPG vehicle with gast at $1.50 a gallon and $15,115 for the 26 MPG vehicle at the same $1.50 a gallon).
BTW I love the FTX concept truck. You guys need to keep in mind that production vehicles are always toned way down from the concept vehicles. Concept vehicles are radical and bold to GRAB attention at the shows.
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BTW I love the FTX concept truck. You guys need to keep in mind that production vehicles are always toned way down from the concept vehicles. Concept vehicles are radical and bold to GRAB attention at the shows.
I hope they tone it down quite a bit. And my next truck (Toyota or otherwise) has to have a bumper. A step bumper. Not a rollpan. Im hoping toyota will somehow stay true to the "work truck" and have something a little more utilitarian. And it has to be comfortable inside. The DC is great. If the FTX is an access cab, will it fit real people in the back? Will they make a 6 seater crew cab?
PS I am writing from Dallas by way of OK City...Texas is Tundra Country??? I see 50 Tundras a day in little ol Bakersfield. I haven't seen 50 in 10 days in OK or Texas...what's up??
Quote:
Originally Posted by TUNDRAV8GEORGIA
no Tundras in texas? damn i hope possum isn't reading this post. he might have to make sure you are heading in the right part of Texas and good luck there since we all know texas is rather big and thinks big (bigger is better in the case of Texas)
OOPS! Sorry I missed this post. We have MANY Tundras in Texas. With the new Toyota Plant that will be breaking ground in San Antonio, Texas I think that the Toyota Motor Corp. will have some BIG surprises for the future of the Tundra.
Time will tell....
Dan
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It seems strange that Toyota would have to design the Prius to look so odd just to achieve a CD of 0.26 when their LS 430 achieves the same number with classy but conservative styling.
LS430 is much longer which helps CD. Also, underbody is mostly covered to produce smooth air flow.
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Thank gawd this will only be a concept model. There's too many things I dislike about this truck, aesthetic-wise. The styling is not something that would make me want to buy it.
Thank gawd this will only be a concept model. There's too many things I dislike about this truck, aesthetic-wise. The styling is not something that would make me want to buy it.
i sort of think this truck is "garbage" the side angle craves titan but with a more jacked up look.If toyota is seriously thinking of making this pos i wouldnt be thinking about toyota any longer right now the tundra still has a good look why mess with a nice look to suddenly jack it up to look like a ford superduty on steriod's..
ps 2damax can you design something that is worth a future look at the next gen tundra (i was thinking create a bigger mock up of the new 05 tacoma and improve it byt making it bigger in all key areas and more refine this may be what the next tundra is going to look like not this fx garbage..
Is this confirmed? Or can someone confirm this? I was thinking that the new design would be a 2006 model introduced in fall 2005, not a 2007 model introduced in 2006.
Thanks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ejyoder2733
The new Tundra, based on the FTX concept truck, is scheduled to come out in August of 2006 as a 2007 model year.
Two Tundra related articles in Popular Science
Texas Tundras
Linear Mode
