Toyota Considers Heavy-Duty Pickup

SEE ALSO: Compare Toyota Tundra Specs - Toyota Buyers Guide

Washington DC November 5, 2007; The AIADA newsletter reported that at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show last week, Toyota Motor Corp. quietly parked in its display of wild tuner cars the Tundra Diesel Dually, a concept truck that could be a template for Toyota's entry into heavy-duty pickups.

According to Automotive News, the Tundra Diesel Dually is Toyota's challenge to the Ford Super Duty pickups, GM's heavy-duty versions of the Chevrolet Silverado, and Chrysler's heavy-duty Dodge Ram.

The Tundra Diesel Dually boasts an 8.0-liter inline-six turbocharged diesel engine, a lengthened Tundra frame, and an Eaton five-speed manual transmission.

Toyota has long been expected to build a big diesel-powered version of the Tundra, but the automaker had said only that it was studying the idea. The Diesel Dually, which features four rear wheels with 22.5-inch tires, shows Toyota could jump into the market quickly.

Tundra Diesel Dually Project Truck

"Road Warrior" exterior combined with luxury Interior

Making a bold and adventurous statement about the contrasts between rugged "Road Warrior" performance and opulent luxury, a Toyota Tundra CrewMax diesel dually project truck made its debut at the 2007 SEMA Show.

At its core, the Tundra light duty pickup's stock engine was replaced with a medium duty diesel powerplant plucked from a 35,000-pound commercial truck. The 8.0-liter inline six-cylinder high-torque engine, made by Toyota affiliate Hino, is mated with an Eaton five-speed manual transmission and a Hino back end. Toyota Motorsports Technical Group heavily modified the Tundra to accommodate the beefed-up driveline.

A host of custom exterior treatments point to the off-the-charts muscle under the hood. Prominent examples include forged aluminum alloy 22.5-inch wheels custom made by Alcoa, a diamond plate-lined bed, a charcoal gray metallic flat paint finish and a fifth-wheel hitch rated at 24,000 pounds.

The muscular theme on the outside shifts dramatically to that of luxury on the inside with hand-sewn ginger leather seats, suede pillars and headliner and dual rear captain's chairs with individual DVD entertainment systems.

PARTNERS:

Engineering by Motorsports Technical Group
Interior by Fast Ed's Interiors
Paint by Focus on Cars
Wheels by Alcoa
Power steps and fuel door by Amp Research
Sound system by Kenwood
Sound installation by Beach Auto Sound
Lighting by PIAA
Exhaust by Magnaflow
5th wheel hitch by Reese


TOYOTA TUNDRA DIESEL DUALLY PROJECT TRUCK SPECIFICATIONS

SEMA CONCEPTS
CAB TYPE		CrewMax, 6'5" Bed on lengthened frame
ENGINE	  		Hino JO8E-TB Medium Duty 6 cylinder Turbo Diesel 
                        (intended for 35K lb truck)
DRIVETRAIN		Eaton 5 speed manual transmission (medium duty application)
 			Hino Medium Duty rear end with Meritor Axles
 			Alcoa 22.5X9 Dually rear wheels and Floatation wheel fronts

EXTERIOR 
Color			Matte Charcoal Metallic
Trim (Theme)		Satin Brushed Nickel
Grille Surround 	Brushed Metal
Bed			Raw diamond plate lined
Wheels			22.5"  Alcoa 10 hand hole forged alloy wheels
Tires			Michelin Energy 295/60/22.5
Suspension		Custom dual front struts with Bilstein dampers, 
                        Deaver spring pack in rear
Fascia			Restyled front bumper insert
 			Diamond Plate Rear Bumper
Lighting		PIAA P4000 Quattro cab lights, LED clearance lights 
                        on side and rear

INTERIOR (Fast Ed's Interiors)
Color			Ginger soft touch leather with french stitching 
                        and perforated inserts
Dash			Brished satin aluminum dash panel
Shift Knob		Ginger leather wrap
Steering Wheel		Ginger leather wrap
Seats			Rear bench seat converted to two power captain's 
                        chairs and console
Headliner		Taupe ultrasuede
Knobs			Satin Brushed Nickel HVAC knobs
Door panels		Fully leather wrapped in Ginger with french stitching 
                        and perforated inserts
Door Handles		Satin Brushed Nickel
Door Sills		Satin Brushed Nickel
Sound System		Kenwood touch panel with full Kenwood sound system
Features		Navigation, dual rear seat entertainment 

EXTRAS	 
 			Reese Signature Series 24K hitch
			AMP Research electrically retractable step boards
			AMP research billet fuel filler door
			Magnaflow 4.5" Polished stainless steel exhaust