UPDATE 6/18/21: Toyota just published this official image of the Tundra TRD Pro with a curt message: “Some people don’t know how to keep a secret.” Sounds about right.
You need wonder no more what the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro will look like.
We know you’ve been waiting like we have since…oh, 2012 or so? New details on the 2022 Toyota Tundra have been making their way into the public in typical drip-drip-drip fashion prior to the big reveal, but today’s revelation is a massive jump forward. If you were wondering exactly how the follow-up to Toyota’s long-running XK50 generation was going to look, now you know by way of leaked photos on the Tundras.com forums, among several other places at this point.
Yeah, even if you’re just sharing with your buddies, something this big ain’t staying a secret for long. Update: It sure didn’t, and now Toyota’s leaning into the exposure.
Indeed it hasn’t, and now we can have a proper look at the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. Apart from the fantastically fiery red paint scheme, these photos show off the truck’s bold new front end, including a set of thoughtfully-placed LED strips, Raptor-esque amber marker lights and some nice and aggressive power bulges on the hood to boot.
Speaking of power…
While we’re on the subject, what’s lurking within the 2022 Toyota Tundra? If the recently revealed Land Cruiser 300 Series is any indication, we’re looking at a fresh new twin-turbocharged V6 to replace the ancient 5.7-liter 3UR-FE V8. In the Land Cruiser, that powerplant makes 409 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. Both those figures are a healthy improvement on the old V8. It should also be at least marginally more efficient (Toyota’s trying to curb model-wide CO2 emissions by 10% with the 300 Series), not to mention the much-needed addition of a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Hopefully, then, the years Toyota has spent toiling away at the new Tundra TRD Pro will make it a compelling match to the Ford F-150 Raptor (or the Tremor, at least) and the Ram 1500 Rebel. For the past few years, rumors have also been swirling that the automaker will hybridize the Tundra for good measure, so we could see something of a monster emerge out of this new generation. Toyota did recently share that the Tundra’s engine will be named “iForce Max“, though it’s not clear whether that’s the same engine straight-up, or whether it’s packing an electric surprise.
Some relentlessly hopeful fans out there continue to clamor for a twin-turbocharged V8 — not an unreasonable request given the Ram TRX and the upcoming F-150 Raptor R — but that prospect may be a long shot.
A (slight) look around back
While the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 is more or less a given, at least if Toyota sticks to the same conventions as the old Land Cruiser/Tundra/Sequoia parts-sharing strategy, we don’t get a good look at the Tundra’s rear end for some more context. What we do see is a massive TRD Pro stamping across the rear tailgate, as well as the customary Toyota-branded tailgate handle. Triple amber marker lights are again visible here, and just check out the new Tundra’s taillights. Like the front light cluster, the rear is just as distinctive — so Toyota’s clearly going for boldness here. Personally, I think they’ve succeeded, so long as the interior is just as bold. Sadly, we don’t get a solid look inside the truck from these images.
