Toyota Tundra test drive Standard cabin since 2006 pickup

Toyota tundra

Toyota seeks to seize leading positions in all key segments of the global automobile market. These ambitions are confirmed by a new generation Tundra pickup: its creators have done everything possible to conquer America.
Over the past decade, Japanese manufacturers, led by Toyota and Honda, have been able to seize leading positions in almost all classes of America’s automobile market. And only in the world of pickups, American brands are still dominated by. A few years ago, Nissan made a successful attempt to take a position in a difficult segment of full -sized pickups, presenting Titan. As it turned out, the Americans are ready to forget about their automobile patriotism for a while if they are offered a pickup with suitable consumer characteristics. Now is the time to attack Toyota in this fundamentally important market segment.
The new generation Tundra was created from scratch. Especially for the production of this car, a plant was built in Texas. Design was developed in the California design studio of the company. When changing generations in Toyota, they thoroughly revised the ideology of the model, making a novelty more aggressively and attractive externally, more comfortable inside and significantly more powerful.
Brutal style
In America, full -size pickups are extremely brutal. This time in Toyota supported these traditions, proposing a formidable design of the front of Tundra. The public reaction was previously checked back in 2006, showing the FTX concept at the Detroit car dealership. Its design caused universal approval, and therefore after easy correction was used for the new Tundra. In principle, the usual components were responsible for the aggressiveness of the image completely new: a huge chrome radiator grille, large block factories, a massive front bumper and hood plate. It seems that such a pickup unequivocally hints all owners of ordinary cars: away from the road! Surprisingly, in Toyota, despite the general angularity of the pickupa, they also achieved excellent aerodynamics. The Aerodynamic resistance coefficient in Tundra is 0.37, approximately the same indicators were characterized by typical European SUVs of the late 90s.
Full -size American pickups are traditionally offered with several types of cabs and cargo platforms. New Tundra is no exception. There are three main options for the cab. Regular Cab has two doors and one row of seats. Double Cab two rows seats and four full -fledged doors, and all of them are opened in a traditional way. There is also Crewmax with 25 cm increased by the length of the rear of the cabin and larger rear doors. Regular Cab and Double Cab can be combined with a conventional body (200 cm in length) or elongated (248 cm), and Crewmax only with short (169 cm). Depending on the performance, the new Tundra reaches a length of 533, 581 or 629 cm, and the wheelbase is 322, 370 or 418 cm, respectively.
Inner world
Despite the solid road clearance (27.5 cm), landing in the salon is comfortable. Inside, predictably solid volumes are combined with a very modern design. Obviously, the creators of Tundra successfully used stylistic and technological solutions from the world of passenger cars in the interior decoration. The most interesting was the instrument panel with five dials deeply drowned in niches, equipped with branded optithronic backlight. By this, designers, apparently, tried to call associations with large American trunk tractors.
Even taking into account the external dimensions of Tundra, the Double Cab salon is impressed by the supply of free space in front. The most powerful emotions are caused by a huge glove compartment located between the front seats and covered with a comfortable armrest. You can even hide a laptop in his bowels. In the Tundra salon, almost all the elements are intentionally made large space. Huge internal handles of the door are organically combined with large circle of climate control adjustments and a gearbox lever. However, all this is convenient and made with taste. Ergonomics are really on top: it is immediately possible to find suitable positions of the seat and steering wheel, and in the future there is no desire to adjust them. In the driver’s chair in a huge Tundra, surprisingly calm and comfortable.
The rear seats passengers will also please the width of the pickup 203 cm. They can be sure that every centimeter has benefited: the three of the Tundra rear sofa is not crowded. True, the back of the front seat in the usual position is close to the knees. To stretch your legs in the back seat, you will have to order Tundra with the Crewmax cab.
More power
Three engines are provided for Tundra. All of them are still equipped in America in America in the mass order only even larger pickups. The Tundra motor program opens a 4-liter V6 that issues 236 hp. The step above is the V8 with a familiar volume of 4.7 liters. With the engine of similar architecture, but with more conservative settings, Land Cruiser 100 was supplied to Russia. In the version for America, this V8 already issues 271 hp. The top of the model range is 5.7-liter V8 with a capacity of 381 hp. This is a new flagship in the line of gasoline overseas motors Toyota, which the company intends to equip the top versions of its relatively large SUVs and pickups. By the way, this engine will receive in America and Toyota Land Cruiser 200 and Lexus LX 570. Tundra developers rely not only on this engine. For greater efficiency, Tundra 5.7 in the basic configuration is equipped with a 6-band automatic transmission. Less powerful Tundra modifications are equipped with a more modest and simple 5-band automaton.
Creating for the first time in the history of Tundra such a powerful model, Toyota openly challenges Detroit pickups. American owners of full -sized pickups can still afford not to worry about the high fuel consumption. Therefore, many of them order the most powerful and expensive version in the lineup. With the past generation, Tundra in Toyota underestimated the significance of these customers and lost not only in sales, but also in the image. Still, with a 4.7-liter engine, originally issuing only 237 hp, tundra, according to adherents of this type of car, was simply not powerful enough. Now the company does not intend to repeat such strategic errors. According to forecasts, it is for the version with a 5.7 liter engine that there will be almost two -thirds of all Tundra sales in America. We got a Tundra copy with a 5.7-liter engine. It cannot be otherwise: in Russia, it is precisely the most powerful versions of pickups from the American market in Russia. The first start from the place showed that for the new V8 it is not for nothing that such impressive characteristics are declared. Of course, Tundra will not succeed in becoming a full -fledged opponent for Porsche Cayenne Turbo, but the same BMW X5 4.8 and Range Rover Sport SuperchaRged will most likely lag behind the first ten meters. When pouring the gas pedal to the floor, as if there are no 2.5 tons of the equipment. This car was also developed for towing heavy trailers for example, with a boat. Therefore, for a car that has already at 3600 rpm 530 nm of torque, a dynamic start from a place with several passengers on board the trifle task. The most energetic Tundra 5.7 is gaining speed in 2WD transmission mode. On dry asphalt, even despite the control of the electronics, in the first meters, this mode is more effective than all -wheel drive (4H). It is worth trying the start with the disabled track control system. In this case, if the asphalt is at least slightly wet, you can get a pleasant and spectacular wheel slip at speeds up to about 50 km/h. Of course, you should not abuse this, but the long base and solid mass in this case provide the car with enviable terminal stability.
In fact, this Tundra does not lose its enthusiasm in the entire speed range. At the same time, the most flattering reviews deserve the operation of the machine gun. With a solid traction margin in the entire revolution range, he theoretically does not seem to be worried about switching down again. But with a strong press on the gas pedal, he does not miss such an opportunity, providing an even more spectacular set of speed. It is known that in independent American tests, Tundra accelerated from a place to 96 km/h for 66.3 s, and up to 120 km/h for 9 s. This giant was really taught to be very fast.
Incredible lightness
Tundra’s suspension, steering and brakes are even more impressed. Many overseas SUVs cannot boast so informative and impeccable components in the work. Of course, the company's engineers will proudly note the unique design of the Tripletech three -section frame. But there is confidence that Toyota simply spent much more time and means to improve each component of its model than the closest competitors. Indeed, Tundra will present a surprise for a surprise for a driver who is familiar with full -sized American SUVs and pickups. So, this giant car fits into turns of any complexity with phenomenal ease. Of course, there is a tangible hint of body rolls, but at the same time, Tundra is held steadily on a given path. Moreover, the steering can boast of an inconceivable in the level of information content and feedback. With Tundra, you can get rid of the bad habit of adjusting the position of the steering wheel in the bend purchased on its classmates, trying to guess with the desired angle. On Tundra, this is not even necessary to think about this: everything happens intuitively clear.
The brakes deserve excellent ratings. The pedal force can be easily controlled by selecting the desired degree. In addition, the brakes persistently withstand a series of several in a row of sharp slowdown from 150 to 50 km/h, remaining in magnificent form. The clear work of ABS system does not hit the pedal in harmless situations.
Large temptations
In terms of accelerating dynamics, controllability, smoothness and braking, Tundra sets new, very high standards. Perhaps for the first time a full -size pickup has become a worthy opponent SUVs. At the same time, thanks to the clearance, a regular hand -box and tires with a moderately off -road tread Tundra, an obvious off -road advantage has. Let's not forget about the incredible potential for tuning tundra. Already in America, hundreds of accessories are produced for her. For example, a hard cover of the cargo compartment, which was installed on our copy. Soon, a compressor is also expected for a 5.7 liter motor from the Toyota Racing Development factory unit. With such opportunities for the development of Tundra, it becomes even more desirable.
Some technical characteristics Toyota tundra
(manufacturer data)
Dimensions, mm 5809x2029x1940
Equipped mass, kg 2503
Base, mm 3700
Front/back track, mm 1724/1724
Clearance, mm 275
Benzine engine type V8
Working volume, cubic meter. cm 5663
Max. Power, L.S./rpm 381/5600
Max. moment, nm/rpm 550/3600
The transmission is automatic 6-band
The drive is complete
Tires 275/65 R18
Acceleration time 0-100 km, with 6.5
Tank volume, l 100
Fedor Oldin
Photo by Vitaly Usova
 

Source: Avtopanorama magazine