NORTH -*- “THIS may sound like an exaggeration, but the new Toyota Tundra pickup truck is probably the most significant vehicle Toyora has ever introduced in North America. The market for full size pick- ; ups in Canada and the United States is huge. Ford and GM’s full-size pickup trucks consistent- ly rank as the top-selling vehicles of any kind in both countries, and have done for decades. The Tundea is the first full-size pick- up truck from a Japanese manufacturer to seriously challenge these long-entrenched domestic incumbents. The now-discontinued mid-sized Toyota T-100 pickup truck wasn't really a true competitor in this class. [x didn’t have a V8 engine, and didn’t offer the payload capacity or the towing . power to match full-size competitors, or even: mid-size competi- tors. In addition, it was priced too high for the marketplace. The Tundra, however, is aimed squarely at the heart of the pickup truck market where fiall-size half'ton 4X2 and 4x¢ regu- Jar and extended cab pickups are the most popular models. The Tundra offers comparable towing capacities, payload capacities, interior room, and comfort and safety features with its major competitors. ‘The Tundra even tooks like che Ford F-150, a vehicle that could be considered the benchmark in this class. A note of trivia: Toyota had originally planned to call their pickup the “7-150.” but backed down after Ford objected. "Yundra comparable with competitors Half: ton Tundra pickups are available with V6 and V8 engines in regular cab and extended cab (Access cab} bodystvies with 4X2 or part-time 4X4 2-speed transter cases. Tundra V6 madels have a 3.4-litre DOHC 24-valve V6 engine which develops 190 horsepower at 4,800 r.p.m. and 220 tb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 r.p.m. The real muscle and the real market however, lies with the optional 4.7-lire DOHC 32-valve V8 engine which offers 245 horsepower at 4,800 r.p.m. and 315 Ib-ft of torque at 3,400 rp.m. This is the only ewin overhead cam engine in chis class. Toyota’s V8 compares well with its competitor's standard V8 powerplants. Toyota’s 4.7-litre V8 has more horsepower and torque than Ford’s standard 4.6-litre V8 and Dodge’s 5.2-litre V8 engine, but fess horsepower than General Morors new 4.8- lie V8 —~ although, it has more torque. ‘The Tundra’s towing capacity ranges from 2,336 kg (5,150 ib.) to 3,265 kg (7,200 Ib.). This is comparable with the F- 150’s maximum trailer weight of 7,200 ib. with the 4.6-lire V8, and the Ram’s maximum towing capacity of 7,400 Ib. with the 5.2 litre V8. (Towing capacity for the Silverado was not avail- able.) The Tundra’s payload capacity ranges from 633 kg (1,396 Ib.) to 863 kg (1,902 tb.), again comparable with its half-ton competitors with base V8 engines. However, Ford, Chevrolet, GMC and Dodge all offer bigger, optional V8 engines which increase their pickups’ towing and payload capacities. Four-speed automatic standard All Tundra’s have a standard column-mounted, four-speed automatic transmission — a manual transmission is not available. This is unusual in this class. Most pickups have a standard five- speed manual transmission. I suspect Toyota will lose some cus- tomers because there are those who prefer a manual transmis- sion for work-related driving chores. SHORE NE WS AUTOMOTIVE GUIDE NEWS photo Mike Wakefield THE new Toyota Tundra is the first full-size pickup truck from a Japanese manufacturer, challenging long- standing incumbents from Ford, GM and Dodge. Available in 4X2 and 4X4 2-door Regular cab and 4-door Access cab models, the Tundra is offered with a 190-horsepower 3.4-litre DOHC V6 and a 245-horsepower 4.7- litre DOHC V8. Test drive the Tundra at Jim Pattison Toyota, 1765 Marine Drive, North Vancouver. The Tundra 4X4’s part-time four-wheel-drive system is engaged with a floor lever on base madels and dash-mounted push-buttons on Access cab V8 models. Both High and Low Range gears are offered. The Tundra’s suspension is fairly conventional: an indepen- dent front double wishbone/coil spring suspension and rear leaf springs. Brakes are front discs/rear drums with four-wheel ABS as standard equipment. The Tundra’s large 12.5-inch front brakes with four-piston calipers are tops in their class, according to Toyota, and the rear drum brakes have a load-sensing propor- tioning and bypass valve that automatically adjusts rear brake bias for consistent braking performance. The short box on Access Cab models is 1,934 mm (just under 6.5 feet) and the long box on Regular Cab medels is 2,484 mm (just over cight feet) — again fairly standard. The double-wall cargo beds have four tie-down hooks, a removable locking tailgate, and a cargo light. Optional are polyurethane bedliners, bed mat, and vinyl tonneau covers. Toyota claims the Tundra has the stiffest frame in its class because its one-piece reinforced rails are stiffer than the more common multiple piece welded frame rails. As well, the Tundra’s frame under the cab has a rolled lip which increases the rigidity of the rails and reduces vibrations transmitted to the cab. Also, there are eight cross members to enhance the rigidity further. Comfortable interior Regular cab models have a standard three-person bench seat, while Access cabs come with a standard three-person 60/40 split front bench seat with folding armrest, and a forward-facing 60/40 split folding rear bench seat with folding armrest and a storage bin under the seat. Cloth front bucket seats and leather front Captain’s chairs are optional. As the shift lever for the automatic transmission is on the col- See Four-door page 3% ¢ tee Ee ERR PO Ra ARH Oe Oe RR me ee Ree ee