This week marks the biggest event on the automotive calendar for aftermarket parts manufacturers and the tuners that love them. The annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show is the premier showcase for the wildest, most creative modified cars in the world.
We rarely bother to bring news to you from SEMA because they’re generally not for sale. Enthusiasts can head to the Oversteer enthusiast section of our sister site, Autotrader, for briefs on some of the coolest one-off cars.
But Toyota made news for regular car shoppers at this year’s show, introducing an optional power bump for its Tundra full-size truck.
The TRD Performance Package will be available with either of the Tundra’s two available powertrains.
The base i-Force V6 engine makes 389 horsepower on its own, but the upgrade bumps power to 421 horsepower. The available I-Force MAX hybrid V6 makes 437 horsepower, or 469 with the upgrade. The power comes from added airflow to the turbochargers and an improved exhaust system. The package doesn’t boost torque — presumably to protect the rest of the powertrain from added engine power.
It won’t be an entirely stealth package. It comes with an identifying badge and a new custom exhaust tip, so sharp-eyed observers will know your truck is more powerful than a normal Tundra.
Expect to pay $3,400 for the package, Toyota says. That’s steep for a power upgrade, but this one has a feature no other boost kit can offer — it’s installed at the factory and protected by the truck’s original warranty.
For now, the TRD Performance Package will be available only on new Tundra models starting early next year. But Toyota says it’s “working to offer a dealer–installed option for customers that already own (Tundra trucks) and are looking for a factory-backed way to crank up the power.”
