The 2022 Toyota Tundra hopes to continue its success in the full-size truck sector, banking on quality, durability, and dependability as the lineage before it. When it arrives in showrooms later this year, the third Tundra generation is poised to make a huge mark on the North American truck sector.
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More useful features and upgraded technology
The Tundra is unmistakably an American narrative. The appearance was created by Toyota Motor Corporation‘s North American design lab, Calty Design Research, in Newport Beach, California, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, from the earliest pencil designs to the completed exterior design.
Calty designers labored to develop the aesthetic exemplification of toughness and capability while engineers concentrated on essential performance elements for the new Tundra. The team’s design ethos was “technical muscle,” as it capitalized on the all-new truck’s contemporary features while maintaining a hint to Tundra customers’ passion for the outdoors.
2022 Tundra improves on its predecessors by incorporating key features such as two new powertrains that are more powerful and efficient than the outgoing engine, improved towing and payload capability, an all-new North American-designed multimedia system, and a cabin with comforts that the entire family will enjoy.
Tundra will be quite competitive, even with a tonne of extra amenities, due to its MSRP price beginning at $35,950. The new model is already available, the first units being already delivered in dealerships.
Two powerful V6 engines coupled with a rugged 10-speed automatic
A twin-turbo V6 engine and a hybrid twin-turbo V6 engine will be available in the all-new Tundra. The hybrid powertrain will be the more powerful of the two, which may surprise some.
A 10-speed Electronically Controlled Automatic Transmission with Intelligence will be mated to both engines (ECTi). A sequential shift mode, uphill/downhill shift logic, and TOW/HAUL driving modes are all included in the new 10-speed.
It doesn’t seem appropriate to call the twin-turbo V6 a “basic” engine. Its aluminum block has a displacement of 3,445cc with a diameter and stroke of 85.5mm and 100mm, respectively. The Dual Overhead Cam V6 is a 24-valve, chain-driven engine with Dual VVTi systems.
The high-output V6 engine outperforms the old V8 engine in every manner, with astounding performance statistics of 389 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque thanks to the water-cooled intercooler that keeps turbo temperatures low. Standard i-FORCE tuning is used in the SR grades to provide 348 horsepower and 405 lb.-ft. of torque.
This twin-turbo V6 stands alone at the summit of the engine mountain thanks to advanced features. Engineers created cutting-edge cylinder heads with a two-layer water jacket construction for optimum coolant flow and combustion chamber strength, as well as machined cross-channel for enhanced combustion chamber cooling.
Low-profile powder-metal intake valve seats with laser-applied powder coatings improve intake port efficiency and enable maximum coolant flow near the spark plug.
The combined exhaust manifold and cylinder head design, which utilizes the same water jacket to minimize exhaust gas temperature entering the turbochargers, further increases dependability and performance.
Machined cross-channels in the cylinder heads enable coolant to flow across them laterally, providing extra cooling to the combustion chambers. This also helps to improve cylinder head dependability and efficiency. The design of the exhaust valves has also been improved to improve cooling performance.
The i-FORCE MAX powertrain is really the show-stopper for Tundra. The figures speak for themselves: 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and a mind-boggling 583 lb.-ft. of torque at just 2,400 rpm. The stats are great, but it’s how this beast gets them that’s the most fascinating aspect.
The new i-FORCE MAX is based on the same twin-turbo V6 chassis, but it has a unique feature: a motor-generator with a clutch positioned between the engine and the 10-speed automatic gearbox inside the bell housing.
In essence, the motor-generator is designed in line to offer extra power that is effectively delivered through the transmission, while the parallel hybrid components are entirely responsible for engine start-up, EV driving, electric aid, and energy regeneration.
At every extreme, the i-FORCE MAX powertrain is engineered to provide maximum performance and economy. The hybrid technology delivers extra power and torque during hauling operations.
While in low-speed EV mode, it provides a peaceful ride with a better economy in city driving. On the interstate, responsive linear power delivery is the name of the game, and off-road driving is made even better by peak torque performance delivered at low RPMs.
With an emphasis on drive performance, a newly built Power Control Unit (PCU) is employed to deliver superior battery longevity and thermal performance. The system is powered by a tried-and-true 288V sealed Nickel-metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery hidden behind the rear passenger seats.
i-FORCE MAX takes use of the electric motor’s quick reactivity when using the SPORT or SPORT+ settings under Drive Mode Select. Although the electric motor handles the majority of the work at lower speeds, once over 18 mph, the gasoline engine is always running providing superb mid- and high-speed performance.
The i-FORCE MAX system is always active in TOW/HAUL mode, providing excellent acceleration and torque for towing demands.
A bevy of off-road enhancements that boost off-pavement exploration is standard on TRD Pro models and available on 4×4 vehicles equipped with the TRD Off-Road package. Adjustable settings in Multi-Terrain Select assist reduce wheel spin on a variety of terrain.
CRAWL Control is a low-speed, off-road cruise control that enables the driver to concentrate on steering while the vehicle maintains one of five speeds. Another off-road feature is Downhill Assist Control, which assists the driver in navigating difficult slopes by lowering the vehicle’s speed during descent.
The 2022 Toyota Tundra is engineered for toughness and comfort
Toyota Technical Centers in Michigan, Arizona, and California worked on this truck’s research and development. The major issues for Tundra chassis engineers on the whiteboard were to increase capabilities and ride comfort in comparison to the competition.
The researchers discovered that switching to a completely boxed frame boosted stiffness greatly and improved overall capabilities when compared to previous generations.
The frame framework is an example of creative thinking in action. To increase stability and towing capabilities, the rear frame member has been expanded. This foundation also contributed to exceptional ride comfort and refined driving characteristics, especially on grades Limited and above, where the cabin is attached to the frame with hydraulic cab mounts.
The chassis is made of high-strength steel throughout, which increases stiffness significantly over the previous generation, but aluminum is utilized in important parts to assist cut weight. To give extra stiffness and rigidity, frame cross-members have been more than doubled in size.
For the steering gearbox, a new front cross member was built, which provides stiffness via increased cross-member support while also improving steering feedback for the driver and driving characteristics.
Because of the revolutionary Sheet-Molded Compound (SMC) structure and the use of reinforcing aluminum cross elements in the bed, the truck bed is both lightweight and exceptionally sturdy. Compared to standard steel decks, the new SMC bed provides more protection against dents, impact dings, and corrosion.
The tailgate, too, uses lightweight construction techniques to cut weight by 20% over the previous model. When it comes to the tailgate, one of the nicest features is the standard on all models tailgate release on the key fob.
Multi-link rear suspension
A new truck on a new chassis necessitates a new suspension strategy. The new multi-link rear suspension, which replaces leaf springs with coil springs, is without a doubt the most noticeable difference in handling and performance.
The multi-link rear suspension improves ride comfort, straight-line stability, and overall handling characteristics, as well as towing capabilities. Tundra‘s maximum towing capacity has increased by 17.6% to 12,000 pounds over the previous model.
The maximum payload has been increased to 1,940 pounds, an increase of more than 11% over the previous version.
Engineers were able to change the positioning of the shock absorbers, which are located outside the frame rails for increased efficiency, roll damping, and towing performance, thanks to the overall structure of the new frame and the multi-link rear suspension. Furthermore, the lateral control arm offers improved lateral stiffness as an added bonus.
Tundra has a newly engineered double-wishbone front suspension that improves ride comfort, driving performance, and overall longevity. A kingpin offset angle decrease in the front suspension improves straight-line stability and high-speed driving.
For enhanced stability, the caster trail has been increased from 25.4mm (1 inch) on the previous version to 34.1 mm (1.34 inch). Roll steer has been decreased by 25% compared to benchmarks, and the roll height center has been raised (152mm vs. 104mm, or nearly 6 inches vs. 4 inches) to minimize body roll, particularly while turning.
Brand new Toyota multimedia solution
Tundra will be the first Toyota to include Toyota’s Connected Technologies team’s all-new Audio Multimedia system, which was created and engineered in Texas. The technology is controlled via new touchscreens on Tundra models and has a brand-new Human Machine Interface (HMI).
Through sight, touch, and voice activation, the sophisticated HMI improves engagement.
The newest Toyota Audio Multimedia system incorporates a centrally situated standard 8-inch touchscreen or an optional 14-inch touchscreen with increased screen resolutions for high-quality, sharp graphics, with processing power five times more than the previous generation system.
It also offers more responsive touch capabilities that users are increasingly accustomed to, such as pinch and zoom functions seen on smartphones and tablets. The new system still features a wide, easy-to-grip dial for audio volume, which is sure to be a hit with gloved Tundra passengers.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are also included in the new system.
The virtual Intelligent Assistant is a simple-to-use, more powerful, and tailored virtual companion than ever before. To make connecting easy and smooth, basic wake-up words such as “Hey/Hi/Hello/OK Toyota” are used.
Front passengers may utilize voice-activated instructions to search for directions, discover POIs, alter audio settings, and more using dual integrated cabin microphones. VA answers that are intuitive and natural enable vocal responses from the car passenger, producing a human-like conversation experience.
