Toyota has been slowly dripping out glimpses of its upcoming 2022 Tundra pickup all summer. The Japanese company released another round of images this morning. While they mostly give us cosmetic details, there are some mechanical clues to be found in the teaser shots.
A Radical Style Change
The current Tundra is one of the oldest vehicles on the market. Its last full redesign came in 2007. A 2014 update improved the styling, but its chassis and running gear are outdated compared to rivals like the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500. So it’s past time for an update.
And the update appears to be significant. Toyota has already shown off the truck’s blocky, grille-forward exterior, which gives the Tundra more swagger than it has had in years. The company also released a shot of its engine cover, which may reveal a V6 with a hybrid power boost. That could give it V8-like power with better fuel economy – crucial in a truck market that is moving steadily toward more efficient options.
Dramatic Red Leather Cabin
Today’s round of teasers includes a shot of ventilated red leather seats bearing the TRD Pro logo – meaning these images apply only to the top-of-the-line, off-road-oriented trim. They show a red digital camo pattern matching the dark gray digital camo used on the wheel wells and upper bumper.
Another shot shows an iPhone mounted in a dedicated cradle that appears to be charging wirelessly.
Multiple Terrain Modes
A third shows the drive selector. It features four modes – MTS (Multi-Terrain Select), Tow/Haul, and DAC/Crawl (likely descent control) are visible, while the fourth option is blocked by a hand.
That’s all we get for now. An accompanying press release says the truck will be available in the fall. We’ll bring more information when we have it.
