First Look – Gen 3 2022 Toyota Tundra

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on the 2022 Toyota Tundra

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Toyota has previewed what it calls an “all new” Tundra pickup truck, which will be in its third generation when it debuts later this year as a 2022 model. That’s an if, perhaps a big if – if the runaway corona virus Delta variant in Texas and the semi-conductor supply crisis don’t abate.

A new twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine is rated at 389 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque. When paired with a >marketing babble alert> ”brilliantly engineered bell-housing motor system called the i-FORCE MAX, the result is a combined performance output of 437 horsepower and a whopping 583 lb.-ft. of torque.” Both configurations use the same 10-speed automatic transmission.

SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum and 1794 models will eventually be available. TRD Pro will also return to the Tundra lineup, but it will only be offered with the i-FORCE MAX powertrain, whereas i-FORCE MAX will be an option on Limited, Platinum and 1794 models.

Other added items include a high-strength boxed, steel-ladder frame, aluminum-reinforced composite bed and redesigned multi-link rear suspension. The result is a competitive Tundra with a maximum towing capacity of up to 12,000 pounds, +11%, and a max payload capacity of 1,940 pounds, +17.6%.

High-strength steel is used throughout the chassis to increase rigidity “considerably” over the previous generation, while aluminum is used in some areas to help reduce weight. Frame cross-members are more than doubled in size to provide additional reinforcement and rigidity, according to Toyota. A new front cross member was constructed for the steering gear box, which adds rigidity with  an additional cross member support.

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on the 2022 Toyota Tundra

Click to Enlarge.

Toyota is playing catch up with its multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and over-the-air updates. Two different four-door layouts are available, as well as several bed lengths – a 5.5-foot bed, 6.5-foot bed and an 8.1-foot bed.

Toyota’s 36-month/36,000-mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and corrosion with no mileage limit. Tundra also comes with ToyotaCare, a plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Like the prior generation, the new Tundra will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas (TMMTX) in San Antonio.

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About Ken Zino

Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
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