Good! no way I would want bland toy stuff on my truck.

Interesting, maybe they have other fuel efficiency plans like Diesels in the work instead.

This doesn't surprise me.

Toyota and BMW have an arrangement of 'swapping' Toyota hybrid tech for BMW diesel tech.

I'm hoping the next Hilux will come out with a BMW inspired diesel.

The benefits from hybrid can be out performed by diesel only powered vehicles. This will reduce the cost and complexity of the vehicles with very nearly the same FE and in some a diesel is getting better FE than a gas powered hybrid.

Subsidised vehicles only cost the taxpayer. We should maximise existing technologies.

@big al, you have it part-right. Actually the entire calculation regarding hybrid, diesel or any other alternative to gasoline is Load. More payload, more miles driven, more stop/go driving, more hilly country, more load in any form all add up to an advantage for alternate tech.

Gasoline is the advantage in other applications where a lower entry cost is crucial. For someone like me who drives less than 10k miles per year, the advantages for hybrid are slim.

I'm guessing that for the large part, Toyota is pissed about Ford's exagerated milage claims, that are based on Toyota tech. They're taking their ball and going home.

I'm still waiting for the Hydraulic Hybrid that Ford was supposedly working on that would yield 65 MPG in the F-150.

Who gives a freakin crap what Toyota does anyway!

great the reliability of the Toyota hybrid will be much better (as always). after all the exagerated c-max is supposed to yield 47/47 yet doesnt get but 38mpg. meanwhile the 44/40 rated prius V that is much larger in cargo space inside actually yields 42 on average.................. just like ford's trucks, overstated fuel economy.

When it comes to trucks, FORD dosen't wan't Toyota's imput. They have the largest share of the market for a reason, they don't need Toyota to ride on their coat tails saying look at me!!!!

@silverraven

Would you rather own the best selling truck(sheep) or the best quality?

The Ford has the most features, but the Toyota has the best quality, you never have to take them into the shop as they just run like a clock for many many miles and years.

I hope that Ford is using the ecoboost as its first step towards implementing its bobcat concept from a few years ago. If Ford could mass produce those engines, and they prove to be reliable, it would be a *huge* game changer.

It seems to me that the ultimate high mileage vehicle would be a diesel powered hybrid, where the engine would either be running at a fixed speed or not at all, and all acceleration was handled by the electric power. That would be a radical departure from the approach that Toyota has used for its complicated but amazingly reliable Prius.

I hope Ford does the hydraulic hybrid with a small diesel. I could see Ford believing in that technology more so than Toyota's traditional gas-electric parallel hybrid technology.

Ford doesn't need Toyota. Who in their right mind would buy a Toyota anything over a Ford these days? Ford had their share of junk in the past but the last 15 years or so and especially the last decade, you can't hardly touch their quality. You noticed it starting about mid 90's. That's when I jumped the Chevy ship and went to Ford. A Toyota small 4 cyl car in the 80's and 90's was preferable over the stuff coming out of the Big 3. That's where it ends to me. Toyota has the Tacoma, that's about it.

FordTrucks, anyone who doesn't want Ford garbage buys Toyota. Why do you care, I buy Toyota and love them if you don't like Toyotas stick with your Turds.

Works for me. With Ford enjoying over 500% increase in hybrid sales over same time last year and about to debut new F150. They are saying hybrid truck in this decade and that sounds about right considering the way other engines are bowing in in the business. Ford does not need anything that Toyota has. Break it off and go different paths and watch Ford lead the way. I am waiting to replace my personal pickup for the first new F150 test drive. Case closed.

Thank God!

Sounds good. Ford would've infected Toyota with unreliabity.

The enthanol-injected Bobcat engine is the Ford Truck engine of the future. That said, a diesel-electric truck engine would be very interesting. It works in locomotives and ice-breaking ships.....why not trucks.

http://www.henryford150.com/

Neat Henry Ford Timeline.

Ford has had reliability ratings comparable to Toyota for several years now. The only think killing Ford right now is the poorly executed MyTouch system. That will teach them a lesson for assuming that Microsoft builds quality software. Microsoft is #1 because of shrewd business sense and bundling of packages not having a great product.

I think that Ford will go the route of diesels and the "Bobcat" engine.

I bet that Toyota and Ford found that there wasn't anything to gain by co-developing a hybrid truck. Control of intellectual property was most likely the biggest hurdle to a joint operation.

If hybrids were not subsidized, the technology would end up withering away, at least in the short term. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is where the future lies not batteries.

@papa jim--Me too, I really don't drive that much anymore. My nephew has a Prius because he can use the High Occupancy lane in DC and he does a lot of driving (for him it makes sense). I do like seeing the hybrid technology keep on moving forward.

Ford has plenty of tech of their own, and needs no help from Toyota, but I would say if Toyota could use the frame Ford uses in the F-150, you put that frame under a Tundra? and you would make a fine truck much better. Especially in the longer wheel base models.

MFT was initally a venture between Ford and Microsoft. Then a spin-off company from Microsoft (I forget the name, Square B or something) launched the system with flawas and decided to fix it on the street. I know other Ford vehicles will be using the F-150/Escape/Focus MFT system that has manual controls with big buttons and kobs. There are three ways to control climate, manual, touch screen or by voice command. I don't know about you but in the F-150, EVERY time I've used voice commands, or demonstrated it to a friend, it's worked flawlessly. MFT is a static system with occasional updates, smart phones and tablets are constantly changing, the one in your hand is already out of date. MFT is designed to work with the changing devices, not the other way around.

Technology is a double edged sword IMO, simplify the systems and the Techno Geeks will cry at the superiority of a competitors version, make it too laden with features and some guyswill be up in arms...

Quote from a recent article on the MFT sytem:
"Some independent critics have praised the system. They say the initial growing pains that have shown up in poor quality rankings actually represent a technology headstart for Ford that will pay off down the road.

“New technology pioneers run the risk of having others capitalize on their initial mistakes,” said John Sousanis, analyst with WardsAuto. “But there’s a potential for big reward, too, especially if the public starts to think of a company as an innovator.”

It was actually it was a well written article. A good history lesson on how MFT began, the bad points and the good points. Alisa Priddle just didn't cut-and-paste the usual MFT dialogue like most journalists do, she actually did some research. And again I haven't heard much of any complaints on the new MFT for F-150 which Ford is using to help guide other vehicles and the next-gen MFT.

http://www.freep.com/article/20130623/BUSINESS0102/306230046/My-ford-touch-infotainment

"I think this is one area where Ford really is better off going it alone. Ford has little to gain and Toyota nothing to lose in partnering on fullsize trucks in just about any regard.

Investments in new technology can likely be recouped far quicker on something like Ford's fullsize pickups than on smaller hybrids or EV's. I doubt Toyota can safely invest in a new hybrid system for the Tundra due to its low volume"

I think your last sentence is key. I believe Toyota reviewed its business case for Tundra and said this is crazy. In fact, there is probably a fairly good chance that there won't be another new Tundra. Toyota will just facelift the current one indefinitely and "ranger" it like they are doing to Tacoma right now.

I don't think Hybrids are the answer, two systems makes for extra weight and cost. newer gas engines are getting better milage then ever before and deisel will only improve on this. Look at the old Silverado Hybrids they got worse mileage then the current 2014 model with a straight gas engine.

Boy Ken that’s really deep...looks like you put a lot of thought into that statement...it deserves repeating:

“Look at the old Silverado Hybrids they got worse mileage than the current 2014 model with a straight gas engine...”

One could extend that logic and say:

Look at the old horse and buggy it got better mileage than the current 2014 model with a straight gas engine...maybe we should go back to that Ken. I bet you if they put hybrid technology in a 1960 GM pickup, it would get worse mileage then the current gas 2014 model . What do you think Ken? Can you really call this progress? lol

How about you try this one on for size....if one were to focus on better gas mileage alone, wouldn’t it be logical that putting hybrid technology side by side with the new 2014 model engines (or the newest technology available currently)would further improve gas mileage? Otherwise why bother to even debate the point of Hybrid technology at all?

But maybe I’m wrong we should take the Ford approach to gas savings:

http://enr.construction.com/products/equipment/2013/0530-drivers-report-problems-with-fords-ecoboost-truck-engine.asp

http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084425_in-wake-of-lawsuits-nhtsa-investigates-ford-ecoboost-engine

http://www.slashgear.com/us-government-investigating-ford-f-150-engine-problems-27283828/

Wonder why Toyota collaborated with Ford to begin with? They had nothing to gain from it...

Sounded as bad as an idea as CARLOS DANGER !!

98sienna - the tundra is nowhere near the best quality truck, and their history backs it up.

They probably don't need each other any longer.

I hope they didn't scrap the plans and if they did, I hope they're skipping right to PHEV.

The first PHEV pickup to come out, I will buy it.
Even if it's a Chrapsler!

I think Ford's decision to end the partnership (and I believe it was Ford's choice) stems from the following: Toyota likely wasn't a heavy financial partner.

First, why else would Ford agree to share infotainment technology with Toyota as part of the original framework? Answer: Toyota was bringing technology to the table and wanted something in return besides an investor.

Second, as Nick (and someone else here he quoted) pointed out, the Tundra's sales volume is far too low to justify a hefty financial investment on Toyota's part.

Thus, Toyota said "we'll bring the technology if you pay for the additional R&D" and Ford didn't like that arrangement. Who could blame them? Ford's hybrid technology is doing just fine on it's own (overzealous mileage claims notwithstanding).

Can't say that I blame toyota for backing out. Why would they want to associate themselves with junk? I am about to give the new Tundra a close look.

Ford is selling more hybrids in the US than Toyota anyway and holy cow...Ford is the number one truck seller. Why on earth would they need Toyota?