Photo: Toyota
According to a report by Automotive News, the next-generation Toyota Tundra and Tacoma pickup trucks will ride on the same, new platform that the company is internally calling “F1.”
As the Tundra is a full-size and the Tacoma a midsize pickup, the new platform will need to boast a good degree of modularity, not unlike the TNGA platform that Toyota already uses for both its small and large cars.
The new F1 architecture is believed to be nearing completion and could be ready to underpin a new truck as soon as the 2021 model year. If that’s true, we would expect the Tundra to get first dibs over the Tacoma, as the former’s current roots can be traced all the way back to 2007, making it long due for an overhaul. The Tacoma, meanwhile, was completely redesigned in 2015 and, as we saw at the recent Chicago Auto Show, is receiving a light refresh for 2020.
Stephanie Brinley, senior automotive analyst for IHS Markit, says the shared platform strategy could make sense for Toyota given that the two trucks already share a plant in San Antonio. The important thing, she says, is whether Toyota can make the Tundra as big as its customers expect while keeping the Tacoma small.
But if Toyota intends to focus on getting one truck just right even if it means compromising the other, the Tacoma is likely to be the one to benefit, as it is the more popular of the two trucks by a substantial amount.
“Toyota is never going to see Detroit 3 volumes out of Tundra,” she added. “They don’t need to beat them; they just need to build something that makes customers happy while meeting internal volume expectations and profitability targets Toyota wants.”
News Source: Automotive News(subscription required)
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.