TRD—Toyota Racing Development—is the company’s performance subsidiary, and one of its ongoing missions is modifying street vehicles for action off-road. Drawing on extensive experience in desert racing, the latest TRD Pro modifications are applied to a trio of special editions—the 2018 Toyota 4Runner SUV, and Tacoma and Tundra pickups. The trio was introduced at the Chicago Auto Show.
Common to all three modifications are 2.5-inch Fox front shock absorbers with an internal bypass feature that delivers progressively firmer damping when the going gets rough. The rear shocks, also from Fox, are equipped with outside reservoirs, to deliver essentially the same function in extreme use.
Static ride height and suspension travel increase slightly on the front of all three vehicles, as well as higher spring rates all around, and there are provisions for protecting the Fox shocks from dust.
Tacoma TRD Pro
Toyota’s midsize pickup is already available with a variety of off-road options, but the Tacoma TRD Pro package spares the buyer from shopping through a parts catalogue. It includes the Fox shock absorbers, stiffer TRD springs, a heavier front anti-roll bar, a front skid plate emblazoned with red TRD logo, and a freer flowing tailpipe system that presumably lends more authority to the exhaust note.
The Tacoma rolls on 16-inch TRD wheels whose offset adds an inch to the track. Tires are Goodyear Wrangler Kevlar all-terrain, 265/70. In addition to the black wheels, the TRD Tacoma is distinguished by a black grille, aftermarket fog lights, projector beam headlights, and TRD Pro badges.
Most visible among the Tacoma’s mods is the optional TRD Desert Air Intake, with its opening above the windshield, out of the dust, rather than the production air intake, which resides within a front wheel well. Interior upgrades include leather seats, more TRD emblems, and Toyota’s premium Entune JBL audio system with integrated navigation.
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Tundra TRD Pro
The TRD treatment for Toyota’s full-size pickup includes springs that raise front ride height by 2 inches, and rear suspension travel increases by 2 inches. A set of forged aluminum BBS wheels wearing Michelin 275/65 all terrain tires reduces unsprung mass by a little over 3 pounds per corner, according to Toyota, a TRD skidplate protects oil pan and transmission, and TRD Pro pipes enhance the exhaust note.
Beyond the plethora of TRD logos, cosmetic elements include Rigid Industries fog lamps, LED head and accent lights, a new Toyota grille, and a hood scoop. The seats are clad in leather, with red stitching, and there are red accents elsewhere in the interior. A power moonroof is available with the TRD package.
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4Runner TRD Pro
In addition to the Fox shocks, upgrade springs, and increased ride height, 4Runner off-road enhancements include a TRD front skidplate, a “roost shield” to protect the inverted rear shocks from dust, and a set of matte black 17-inch alloy wheels with 265/70 Nitto Terra Grappler tires. The Nitto tires expand the 4Runner’s track by an inch.
Other elements of the package: black Toyota grille; projector beam headlights; LED fog lamps; a roof rack; standard Entune premium JBL audio with navi; TRD floor mats; TRD shift knob; and seats clad with Softex (Toyota’s synthetic leather) and picked out with red stitching plus red TRD logos in the headrests.
All three TRD Pro vehicles include Toyota’s Star Safety System features as standard equipment, and the Tacoma and Tundra also include Toyota Safety Sense with its array of driver assist features.
Available in dealerships this fall, the TRD trio will be offered in three colors—black, white, and, exclusive to TRD, Voodoo Blue. Pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date.
