2007 Toyota Tundra Preview

These boys ain’t messin’ around. Irv Miller, VP of Corporate Communications, calls it a “big bad motha’ of truck.” Jim Press, president and CEO, refers to it as the “biggest, boldest bad-ass truck in history.” If you’re thinking this is guy talk taking place at a bar after a few beers, you’d be way off. It’s just after 9:00 in the morning at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show, and those remarks are from Toyota’s highest-ranking executives as they launch the totally redesigned 2007 Tundra pickup. Apparently Toyota has heard enough about its biggest truck being “not quite full-size” or “not really competitive with true truck buyers.” Though still called the Tundra, there’s little to tie this new brute to the model it replaces. The look is all-new, with a muscular, domed hood, subtle wheel flares, body accent lines along the bed and fenders, and a body that just looks, well, bigger. That makes sense considering the 2007 Tundra has a longer wheelbase, has increased ten inches in length, five inches in height, and is four inches wider. Some may call it overkill, others will more appropriately see it as what Toyota needed to do to become truly competitive.

What it is

What you’re looking at is Toyota’s first true full-size truck. There once was the T100, an anemic pickup similar in size to today’s Tacoma, followed by the first-generation Tundra, which added some size and an available V8, though neither was enough to challenge the tough and proven offerings from Chevy, Ford, Dodge, and most recently, Nissan. However, the 2007 Toyota Tundra looks ready to take on any of those trucks and nearly any task demanded from a tough-love owner. From a rear-wheel-drive V6 regular cab appropriate for dump runs and daily commutes, to a 5.7-liter V8 crew cab with four-wheel-drive traction for hauling horse trailers through muck, Toyota believes this Tundra will appeal to the vast majority of truck drivers.

Why it matters

Despite its enviable reputation for reliability and ever increasing market share, Toyota is a brand lacking a gen-u-ine full-size pickup. For years, the current Tundra has been labeled “not quite full-size” and has subsequently come up short in comparisons with larger and more powerful offerings from the likes of Ford and Chevy. That’s been unfortunate for Toyota, given the huge market for such vehicles in this country. In an effort to change its fortunes, the company offers the 2007 Tundra, a truck that has grown substantially in size and capability. To be sure, there will be some tortuous head-to-head testing taking place soon, marking the first time a Toyota will be tackling the big boys and leaving the junior varsity league behind.

What’s under the hood

For 2007, the Tundra is available with an economical 4.0-liter V6, an updated version of the 4.7-liter V8 found in the 2006 model, and a new 5.7-liter V8 with variable valve timing and capable of meeting ULEV emission standards. A new six-speed automatic transmission will also be on the menu. Combining the newly-available grunt with the 2007 Tundra’s 30-percent stiffer chassis and a tow hitch integrated into the frame allows this new super-sized Toyota to pull more than 10,000 pounds.

What’s inside

Toyota will offer the 2007 Tundra in base, SR5, and Limited trims, each with up to four inches of shoulder room, and an additional six inches of hip room for rear seat passengers. The glovebox has been enlarged to accommodate a thermos, and the huge center console can double as a filing cabinet or laptop carrying case, a point surely to be appreciated by general contractors and road warriors everywhere. Options include a JBL audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and a wide-screen reversing camera hidden in the tailgate, a good thing to have in such a large vehicle.

What it looks like

Those who follow the auto industry will recognize the 2007 Toyota Tundra as a production version of the FTX concept that debuted at the 2004 North American International Show. Others will simply see a full-size truck with a face resembling that of the smaller Tacoma. Behind that tall and imposing front end with the chrome grille, large headlights, and body-color bumper is a tiered hood, front and rear flared wheel wells, a character line that intersects the door handles and runs the length of the truck, huge wraparound taillights, and a chrome rear bumper. Despite its size, having grown in all directions over its predecessor, the 2007 Toyota Tundra looks relatively small. But once you consider that the wheels are rather large 20-inchers, it’s easier to put this pick ‘em up into perspective. Regular, double, and crew cabs will be offered with three different beds, the longest of which measures eight feet. Inside are flowing and curvaceous shapes mirroring those of the exterior, with clear gauges and large knobs and simple controls. Door handles and interior buttons and knobs have been designed to be used by hands clothed in heavy work gloves, making the 2007 Tundra a friend and not an adversary on the job site.

What Toyota says

To suggest that Toyota executives are excited about this truck would be like saying bird hunting with Dick Cheney might be a bad idea. These guys are stoked about the 2007 Tundra, designed in California, engineered in Michigan, and to be built in Texas and Indiana, describing the vehicle’s targeted buyers as “true truckers”, those consumers who use and abuse their rides, and subsequently report the results to friends and family. Toyota is confident that the news will be positive, with company CEO Jim Press touting the 2007 Tundra as “our best ever” and “the perfect full-size truck for America” with “refinement never seen in a full-size truck.” That’s a lot of pressure to put on one vehicle, though it’s fitting, given Toyota’s assertion that the redesigned Tundra will be an integral part of transforming the brand into a true, full-line manufacturer.

What we think

There’s no disputing that the 2007 Toyota Tundra is larger, more powerful, and more capable than the truck it replaces. It can now charge onto a level playing field with veteran full-sizers from Ford, Chevy, and Dodge, not to mention Nissan, and does so with an accommodating interior, more than 10,000-lbs. of towing capacity, and what Toyota promises to be a competitive price. Considering Toyota’s reputation and the versatility that comes with the new Tundra, in terms of body styles, powertrains, and drivetrains, this is a truck that will surely find its share of buyers. That being understood, we’ll reserve judgment until Toyota releases some hard facts, like the horsepower and torque ratings for that 5.7-liter V8 (not to mention the lesser engines), and pricing. Plus, we’re not sure those pretty curvy fenders, when combined with the utter lack of a diesel option, will be enough to sway “true truckers” away from their current brands.

When you can buy it

If you’re thinking the 2007 Toyota Tundra is just the truck you’ve been longing for, you’ll have to suck it up and wait a bit longer. This brawny Toyota will go on sale next January, with first year sales estimated to hit 200,000 units.

Photos courtesy of Toyota