2022 Toyota Tundra Debuts With Twin - Turbo V6 And Optional Hybrid
In the ever-escalating truck wars in America, where the fullsize pickup outsells every other type of vehicle, 15 years isn't just a long time. It's practically an eternity. But that's how long Toyota kept its second-generation Tundra on sale, having debuted all the way back in February of 2006 for the 2007 model year. Back then, the Tundra's 5.7-liter V8 engine's 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque sounded impressive, the six-speed automatic was state of the art and its 10,000-pound tow rating was competitive. Today? Not so much.
It's about time, then, for a thorough redesign. And the 2022 Toyota Tundra is exactly that — there isn't a single nut or bolt that carries over from the outgoing truck. In place of the old truck's V8 engine is a new twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, optionally assisted by an electrified hybrid variant that's both more powerful and more efficient. In standard form, 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque are shuttled through a 10-speed automatic to either the rear wheels or all four.
The real headline grabber, though, is the optional I-Force Max powertrain. Boosted by an electric motor that sits nestled in the transmission bell-housing behind the engine and is wired to a 288-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack under the rear seat, a total of 437 hp (at 5,200 rpm) and 583 lb-ft (at a relatively low 2,400 rpm) make this the torquiest powertrain in its class, just ahead of the Ford F-150 PowerBoost’s 570 lb-ft.