PONTIAC, MI - The new 2022 Toyota Tundra pickup truck, the first Toyota truck to offer a hybrid powertrain, is shown at the 2021 Motor Bella auto show on September 21, 2021 in Pontiac, Michigan.
(Photo : Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
Don't look now, but there appears to be a new challenger in the full-size off-road pickup truck market. Toyota is throwing its hat into the ring again, with the Japanese automaker reportedly developing a high-speed off-road version of the 2022 Tundra. The vehicle, which some are calling the Toyota Tundra Raptor Truck, will look to grab a bigger share of the pie in America's lucrative full-size truck market.
According to a report from The Drive, Toyota is planning to release an off-road-focused version of the all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra. The website got that information from a "tipster with inside knowledge," with that source claiming that the vehicle will sit above the TRD Pro variant in Toyota's lineup.
Toyota developing an off-road version of the Tundra is not a complete surprise considering the Japanese company showed a similar concept in last year's SEMA Show. Toyota Racing Development captured the imagination of truck fans everywhere when it showed a special Desert Chase Tundra concept vehicle in the 2021 SEMA Show.
Truck draws inspiration from TRD Desert Chase Tundra concept
The TRD Desert Chase Tundra build is based on the 2022 Tundra TRD Pro, packing a stock 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 and hybrid system under the hood. That engine can generate 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of twist with TRD pairing it with a standard 10-speed automatic transmission.
Its special long-travel suspension setup made the Desert Chase Tundra different from the Tundra TRD Pro. TRD designed this suspension setup to help the truck absorb big bumps more easily. The Desert Chase Tundra also features several off-road lights.
The Desert Chase Tundra utilized rear coil springs to go along with the truck's 37-inch all-terrain tires. General Tire's Grabber X3 all-terrains were fitted to 18-inch forged aluminum wheels, helping the pickup truck save some unsprung weight.
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Toyota planning to come for Ford's crown
That concept design came last year, so expect more upgrades from Toyota for its newest truck offering. The road to the top won't be easy for the Japanese automaker as it tries to establish itself in the niche market.
Ford has been the king of this category ever since the US automaker launched the popular F-150 Raptor in North America in 2010. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, now part of Stellantis, tried to challenge Ford with its Ram 1500 TRX. Rumors are also swirling that Chevrolet will also enter the off-road pickup truck market with the all-terrain Silverado ZRX.
It will be interesting to see the Japanese firm's next moves regarding the "Toyota Tundra Raptor Truck." According to The Drive's tipster, Toyota plans to send the vehicle desert racing for its much-awaited debut. Toyota allegedly will enter the pickup truck in the stock class of an as-yet-unspecified event, following Ford's strategy before when it released the F-150 Raptor.
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