In 2000, Toyota began development of the second generation Tacoma under chief engineer Chikuo Kubota.[15]
Majority of development work was handled by Hino in Japan. Designers
Shigeya Hattori and Hideo Karikomi of Hino, won the internal design
competition in 2001. Final designs were frozen for production in 2002
and patents filed on July 3, 2003, with test mules being tested from
early 2003. Prototypes were built later in 2003, with development ending
in the second quarter of 2004.[16]
On February 4, 2004 at the Chicago Auto Show,
Toyota unveiled a bigger and more powerful Tacoma. This new Tacoma was
available in eighteen different configurations, that included three cab
configurations, four transmissions, two engines, and two bed lengths.
The three cab configurations consist of regular cab, access cab, and
double cab. The transmissions come in 4-speed automatic, 5-speed
automatic, 5-speed manual, and 6-speed manual. Beds are: 6 ft (1.8 m)
long bed, and 5 ft (1.5 m) short bed. The Tacoma's 4.0-liter 1GR-FE V6 took the place of the original 3.4-liter 5VZ-FE
V6. The new V6 had many enhancements, such as a tow rating of 6,500 lb
(2,948 kg), and a payload capacity of 1,650 lb (748 kg). It produces 236
horsepower (176 kW) and 266 lb·ft (361 N·m) of torque. The smaller, but all-new 2.7-liter 2TR-FE 4-cylinder alternative in less expensive models is rated at 159 hp (119 kW) and 180 lb·ft (244 N·m). of torque.
Toyota also introduced an X-Runner trim, which replaces the slow
selling S-Runner trim from the previous generation. The X-Runner
features the 1GR-FE paired to a six-speed manual transmission,
18 in (457 mm) alloy wheels, lowered two inches from the factory and
included an X-Brace suspension package. Toyota also included a Down-Hill
Assist Control (DAC) and Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), with models
that were equipped with the optional Toyota Racing Development
(TRD) Off-Road package. DAC automatically applies braking during
downhill descents while HAC prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards
on hills. A rear locking differential, or limited-slip differential
were also some optional features. Every Tacoma was manufactured with a
composite inner bed that includes a deck rail system with four tie down
cleats, hook-pins, storage boxes. TRD package equipped Tacomas also
feature an in-bed 115V/400W AC power outlet. The tie down cleats are
rated to hold up to 220 lb (100 kg).
The 2006 model Tacoma was a bit different from the 2005 model. The
2006 model made some options standard. Toyota also added 2 new interior
colors for the 2007 model year. 2008 models are carry-ons from 2007. For
2009 safety features were added and the Tacoma no longer offers a
mechanical limited slip differential rather an open differential
which uses individual wheel braking to simulate a mechanical LSD or
"Auto-LSD". TRD off-road models continue to come equipped with a locking
rear differential. The second generation Tacomas were assembled in Tijuana, Mexico and Fremont, California
while the plastic/composite beds were all built in Mexico. However, in
August 2009 Toyota announced that it would relocate Tacoma production
from Fremont to San Antonio, Texas.
A minor facelift came for 2009, including a slightly revised grille
on some models, new LED taillamps, and on the X-Runner, TRD Offroad and
TRD Sport models includes smoked headlamp trim. Auxiliary audio input
now comes standard. The Access/Double Cab trucks have two new ceiling
mounted speakers and available backup monitor. Four new exterior colors
are also added to the Tacoma.
After the bankruptcy of GM, GM ended its joint venture with Toyota.
Toyota, needing additional production volume at its Texas and
Mississippi plants, ended Corolla and Tacoma production at the Fremont
plant.[citation needed]
In 2010 all Tacoma production was moved to Toyota's Texas plant in San
Antonio. The Tacoma will be built alongside the Tundra. This brought a
total of approximately 1,000 new jobs to San Antonio
The 2012 model year refresh featured a restyled front bumper,
headlights, grille, hood, new interior and a shark fin antenna for the
SiriusXM satellite radio. The 2013 model year comes with touch screen
audio system and removes the shark fin antenna and SiriusXM radio
capability unless the optional Entune package is installed. 2014 models
came with a new SR trim and for 2015 models the regular cab model was
discontinued.
In November 2016, Toyota USA settled a class action suit over frame
rust, agreeing to inspect and if necessary replace rusted frames on
2005–2010 model year Tacomas, 2007–2008 MY Tundras, and 2005–2008 MY Sequoias in the US and its territories.[17]
SG Automotive manufactures a truck with a similar grille and headlights called the Huanghai Major in China.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
First generation (January 1995–August 2004)
The Tacoma was introduced in the US in February 1995 (March 1995 market launch) as a replacement for the Hilux, which prior to this was marketed in the US under the name Toyota Pickup.
Compared with the Hilux, the Tacoma is engineered with a greater
priority on ride quality, handling, comfort, and safety over ruggedness
and payload capacity. The design is intended to better suit the needs of
the US and Canadian pickup truck market, where pickup trucks,
particularly compact and mid-sized models, are often used as personal
vehicles, and less exclusively for commercial, agricultural, and off
road use. The name was derived from the Coast Salish peoples' name for Mt. Rainier in Washington state.[2]
Development began in 1989, following launch of the fifth generation Toyota Pickup in late 1988 and concluded in 1994. Design work was done at Calty Design Research in California from 1990 to 1992, when Kevin Hunter's exterior design proposal was chosen in the autumn of 1991 and in final form, frozen for production in 1992. Patents for the production design were filed in Japan in April 1993 and October 28, 1993 in the United States.[3][4]
There were a total of three engines available for the Toyota Tacoma:
Two-wheel drive Tacomas had 5-stud wheel lug patterns. The 2.4 L and 3.4 L engines were available in this vehicle depending on options. Automatic and manual transmissions were available.
Four-wheel drive Tacomas (also 2WD crew cabs 2000–present) had six-stud wheel lug patterns, which had been used on the prior pickups (pre-Tacoma trucks). The truck's frame is fully boxed until immediately after the front leaf spring mount bracket where it transitions into a c-frame section. The 3.4 V6's manual transmission was an R150F while the automatic transmission was an A340F (Aisin code is 30-40LE). From 95-97 Single cab Tacomas had the option of a manual transmission with the 3.4 V6 engine. The aftermarket TRD supercharged 3.4L V6 produced 254 bhp (189 kW) and 270 lb·ft (366 N·m).[6] From 1997 on, the single cabs only got a 2.7 L or a 2.4 L 4-cylinder from the factory. TRD packages started in 1997 (if the V6 engine was selected, a differential locker in the rear came with it).
In its first couple years of production the Tacoma sold very well, attracting many young buyers. The first generation Tacoma underwent a minor headlight upgrade from recessed to flush headlights in October 1996 on 2WD models and a total of two cosmetic facelifts: the first in July 1997, and the second in October 2000. The facelifts mainly entailed grilles (model year MY1998 and 2001) and tailgate badging and emblems (MY1998). Mechanical changes included a switch to distributorless ignitions (coil-on-plug) in 1996 and in 1997 longer rear leaf springs. A passenger-side air bag was added in July 1997, and the driver's side air bag (standard from 1995 launch) was "depowered". Most 4x4 models came with Toyota's Automatic Differential Disconnect (ADD) system after the 2000 model year.
Designed through 1998 (by Yusuke Fukushima) as part of the MY2001 facelift (patented on September 22, 1998 at Japan Patent Office under #0890798) was a new crew cab (four-door) model added to the lineup in October 2000. The crew cab featured four doors and Tokico gas shocks, while the extended cabs still opened with two doors and used Bilstein shocks. The extended cab featured a 6 ft (1.8 m) bed while the crew cab featured a 5-foot-5-inch (1.65 m) bed. Many customers were upset with small crew cab beds, but most competitors shared this shortcoming.[7]
In October 2000, along with the front facelift, Toyota had also unveiled an S-Runner trim package which included the 3.4-liter V6 engine. It came with 16-inch (410 mm) alloy wheels, and a 5-speed manual transmission with Tokico gas shocks. There were only 800 produced each month from September 2000 to August 2004. By 2003 the Tacoma had gained 16.5 percent sales from its previous years. The Tacoma's popularity only increased in the next few years. By 2004 it was ahead of the Nissan Frontier, and Dodge Dakota, but still 2.2 percent behind in sales to the Ford Ranger.
In 2008, Toyota proactively announced a 15-year, unlimited mileage corrosion warranty for 1995-2000 model years due to inadequate rustproofing and frame corrosion issues affecting over 800,000 Tacomas. Toyota will either repair the frame or buyback the truck for 1.5 times its KBB retail value.[8][9] This was later extended to include 2001-2004 model years, but in these cases when a frame was found to be rusty to the point of perforation, the frame is replaced with a new one instead of a buy back.[citation needed]
On November 21, 2012, Toyota recalled about 150,000 Tacoma mid-size pickup trucks from the model years 2001 to 2004 that were sold primarily in 20 cold-weather U.S. states. The recall involves the spare tire and how it could fall off.[10]
Development began in 1989, following launch of the fifth generation Toyota Pickup in late 1988 and concluded in 1994. Design work was done at Calty Design Research in California from 1990 to 1992, when Kevin Hunter's exterior design proposal was chosen in the autumn of 1991 and in final form, frozen for production in 1992. Patents for the production design were filed in Japan in April 1993 and October 28, 1993 in the United States.[3][4]
There were a total of three engines available for the Toyota Tacoma:
- 2.4 L four-cylinder rated at 142 hp (106 kW) and 160 lb·ft (217 N·m) of torque
- 2.7 L four-cylinder rated at 150 hp (112 kW) and 177 lb·ft (240 N·m) of torque
- 3.4 L V6 rated at 190 hp (142 kW) and 220 lb·ft (298 N·m) of torque.
Two-wheel drive Tacomas had 5-stud wheel lug patterns. The 2.4 L and 3.4 L engines were available in this vehicle depending on options. Automatic and manual transmissions were available.
Four-wheel drive Tacomas (also 2WD crew cabs 2000–present) had six-stud wheel lug patterns, which had been used on the prior pickups (pre-Tacoma trucks). The truck's frame is fully boxed until immediately after the front leaf spring mount bracket where it transitions into a c-frame section. The 3.4 V6's manual transmission was an R150F while the automatic transmission was an A340F (Aisin code is 30-40LE). From 95-97 Single cab Tacomas had the option of a manual transmission with the 3.4 V6 engine. The aftermarket TRD supercharged 3.4L V6 produced 254 bhp (189 kW) and 270 lb·ft (366 N·m).[6] From 1997 on, the single cabs only got a 2.7 L or a 2.4 L 4-cylinder from the factory. TRD packages started in 1997 (if the V6 engine was selected, a differential locker in the rear came with it).
In its first couple years of production the Tacoma sold very well, attracting many young buyers. The first generation Tacoma underwent a minor headlight upgrade from recessed to flush headlights in October 1996 on 2WD models and a total of two cosmetic facelifts: the first in July 1997, and the second in October 2000. The facelifts mainly entailed grilles (model year MY1998 and 2001) and tailgate badging and emblems (MY1998). Mechanical changes included a switch to distributorless ignitions (coil-on-plug) in 1996 and in 1997 longer rear leaf springs. A passenger-side air bag was added in July 1997, and the driver's side air bag (standard from 1995 launch) was "depowered". Most 4x4 models came with Toyota's Automatic Differential Disconnect (ADD) system after the 2000 model year.
Designed through 1998 (by Yusuke Fukushima) as part of the MY2001 facelift (patented on September 22, 1998 at Japan Patent Office under #0890798) was a new crew cab (four-door) model added to the lineup in October 2000. The crew cab featured four doors and Tokico gas shocks, while the extended cabs still opened with two doors and used Bilstein shocks. The extended cab featured a 6 ft (1.8 m) bed while the crew cab featured a 5-foot-5-inch (1.65 m) bed. Many customers were upset with small crew cab beds, but most competitors shared this shortcoming.[7]
In October 2000, along with the front facelift, Toyota had also unveiled an S-Runner trim package which included the 3.4-liter V6 engine. It came with 16-inch (410 mm) alloy wheels, and a 5-speed manual transmission with Tokico gas shocks. There were only 800 produced each month from September 2000 to August 2004. By 2003 the Tacoma had gained 16.5 percent sales from its previous years. The Tacoma's popularity only increased in the next few years. By 2004 it was ahead of the Nissan Frontier, and Dodge Dakota, but still 2.2 percent behind in sales to the Ford Ranger.
In 2008, Toyota proactively announced a 15-year, unlimited mileage corrosion warranty for 1995-2000 model years due to inadequate rustproofing and frame corrosion issues affecting over 800,000 Tacomas. Toyota will either repair the frame or buyback the truck for 1.5 times its KBB retail value.[8][9] This was later extended to include 2001-2004 model years, but in these cases when a frame was found to be rusty to the point of perforation, the frame is replaced with a new one instead of a buy back.[citation needed]
On November 21, 2012, Toyota recalled about 150,000 Tacoma mid-size pickup trucks from the model years 2001 to 2004 that were sold primarily in 20 cold-weather U.S. states. The recall involves the spare tire and how it could fall off.[10]
 |
|
1998-2000 Tacoma Xtra cab
|
 |
|
1998-2000 Tacoma extended cab
|
 |
|
2001 Tacoma regular c
|
Toyota Tacoma
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Toyota Tacoma | |
|---|---|
2011 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab
|
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Toyota |
| Production | January 1995 – present |
| Model years | 1995–present |
| Assembly |
|
| Body and chassis | |
| Class |
|
| Body style |
|
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Toyota Pickup Truck |
As of 2015, the Toyota Tacoma is sold in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Panama, Bolivia, Chile, and the French territory of New Caledonia.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)