2023 Tacoma

I've been casually monitoring the upcoming Tacoma information as it comes out. Based on photos of testing in the wild, it looks like it'll be coil sprung and with disc brakes in the rear (no more BS and insulting excuses for cheaping out with stone age tech!). Given Toyota's demonstrated reticence to use technology from the current decade, that bodes well. I'm hopeful for good drivetrain options to go with it, but I suspect that'll be the detail that gives me the most pause as a buyer.
 
24-7 said:
Looks big and fugly as uck!
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The test mule has a Tundra body on the smaller Tacoma frame.
spectre6000 said:
I've been casually monitoring the upcoming Tacoma information as it comes out. Based on photos of testing in the wild, it looks like it'll be coil sprung and with disc brakes in the rear (no more BS and insulting excuses for cheaping out with stone age tech!). Given Toyota's demonstrated reticence to use technology from the current decade, that bodes well. I'm hopeful for good drivetrain options to go with it, but I suspect that'll be the detail that gives me the most pause as a buyer.
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Expect some tech sharing with the 2022 Tundra and with other Toyota models, which means electric parking brake, electric power steering (which makes lane tracing assist possible), transfer case that uses WS ATF, and likely a turbocharged 4-cyl (like the 2.4L T24A in the NX350 making 275 hp and 317 lb-ft).
 
The platform sharing is across a wide range of body on frame models (all of them, I think, at least for the US market), including the Hilux and Land Cruiser internationally. TGNA-F is the designation. I'm curious what comprises this platform. It's clearly not going to be the same frame and drivetrain with different bodywork as has been common in the past. I haven't been paying much attention to the Toyotasphere, is there any intel floating around re: what about the TGNA-F platform will be shared down to the mid-size models? Or maybe simply what defines the TNGA-F platform? Part swapping potential could be very interesting or disappointing.

I've not had a Toyota in many years, and haven't had a modern one in much longer. What is the deal with WS ATF that it requires mention?

An electric parking brake is maybe a little disappointing from a DIY serviceability perspective (though how many people would actually service one?), but if it's only available with an auto (or manual uptake is near zero), I'm not sure it'll be all that missed. Hell, I think most manuals these days have some sort of hill holding feature. I don't think they're any more failure prone at this point, so it's really just if you're trying to hold a hill longer than the hill hold clock allows. I don't think that's a big deal. Electric power steering is also a non-issue as long as it's sufficiently protected against water ingress. Old tech all; Toyota doesn't innovate like that.

A turbo 4 isn't very exciting as far as engines go, but probably better than a NA V6. When I bought my last new truck, I checked out the Tacoma, and was genuinely surprised at how badly the engine was matched to the platform. I drove a manual, and the shift point was somewhere near the moon. Trucks need torque down low for doing truck things, and that is the polar opposite. Based on the figures in the NX350 cited above, the hp isn't any better on paper, but if it's delivered where it's useful it'll be a huge improvement. Ditto the torque. Modern turbocharged engines tend to have their power come on low, and stay steady far beyond the rpm range a truck should ever see. Seems like a move in an overall positive direction. Something more exciting would obviously be preferred, but that is not Toyota's MO.
 
The manual transmission likely will disappear when the 3rd gen production ends.

Using ATF in the 4x4 transfer case is new for Toyotas (starting with the 2022 Tundra). Previously the transfer cases all used gear oil. It's actually an improvement over the $50-a-can Toyota LF oil used in the 3rd gen transfer cases.

Yeah the turbo 4 should be fine once they work out any reliability issues. The V35A in the 2022 Tundra is known to eat its turbo wastegates, and the repair job requires the cab to be lifted from the frame for access.
 
Re: RIP, manual. Not a surprise. Makes the electronic parking brake less of an issue. Is it automatic? I'm one of those weirdos that uses my parking brake, even on an auto (living in the mountains causes one to do such things).

I didn't realize they were still using gear oil. I think that would have made them the solitary holdout. Assuming it's the same fluid used in the transmission, that's a good thing. One less bottle to keep on hand.

Yikes! Hopefully some attention is paid to serviceability.

Are there any expectations for when and where to be looking for meaningful and substantial details? Does Toyota typically follow a schedule, or announce at a particular show?
 
New York International Auto Show starts tomorrow. I dug around, and the current gen was revealed at the Detroit show in January, and for sale the following September. I wonder if we see anything this weekend? If not, I wonder if the model that's been under testing isn't actually a 2024 model...
 
I just watched a YouTube video by someone that claims to be in the know. He was reading off of something I assume was a spec sheet or news release. According to him the only changes for 23 was a couple of options packages for the sr5 and a special color option for the TRD Pro. Don't really know, just what he said.
 
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