2017 Chicago Auto Show: 2018 Toyota Tundra Preview
The Toyota Tundra will makes its debut at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show with a light refresh that adds new safety equipment, slight styling changes and, most excitingly, a sporty new trim level, the TRD Sport. The TRD Sport becomes the seventh available trim package for the Tundra. The Tacoma mid-size already offers a TRD Sport trim and it will fill the same role on the larger Tundra, serving as a "tweener" pickup that provides a boost in off-road capability without having to spring for the full-blown TRD Pro off-road package. The refresh for most of the Tundra lineup is relatively minor, where the exterior is mostly consistent with last year's model; however, select trims will get a mesh grille and several smaller exterior design changes. The Limited and 1794 Edition trims will get a new "billet style" front grille instead.
The TRD Sport will be offered in both CrewMax and double-cab configurations in five colors: Super White, Magnetic Gray, Midnight Black Pearl, Blazing Blue Pearl and Barcelona Red Metallic. The new trim (also available for the full-size Sequoia SUV) adds a hood scoop, 20-inch silver alloy wheels with black accents, LED headlights, a mesh grille, a TRD Sport shift knob and floormats, and a TRD Sport graphic on the side of the bed.
The Tundra's two V-8 engines and transmission carry over from 2017, so the 310-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 and the 381-hp, 5.7-liter V-8 will remain unchanged. As before, the factory six-speed automatic is the only available transmission.
The TRD Sport will be offered only with the larger V-8 in 4x2 or 4x4 configurations. It also gets TRD-Sport-tuned Bilstein shock absorbers and TRD front and rear anti-sway bars to improve its on-pavement stability and help with carrying heavy loads.
Finally, as a part of Toyota's push to include automatic emergency braking in most of its vehicles by the 2018 model year, the 2018 Tundra will add Toyota Safety Sense-P as standard equipment across all trim levels. TSS-P includes a precollision system with pedestrian detection and automatic braking, lane departure alert, automatic high beams and adaptive cruise control. These features give the Tundra a leg up on most of the competition in the segment, especially when comparing entry-level trim levels.
Pricing will not be released for the 2018 models or the TRD Sport until closer to their on-sale date in September.
Manufacturer images
Comments
Cool article... headline is a bit confusing though, it says 2018 Tundra but all I see is a 2014 with an aftermarket grill.
Oh, never mind, its Toyota, that qualifies as "new"
Looks like Toyota is sitting on this as a cash cow. If their car sales keep dropping like the last couple years, they will have to do something too improve the gas mileage on their trucks and large SUV's. They (Toyota) have been depending on their Camry and Corrolla to keep CAFE numbers up but those car sales have dropped lick a brick.
No engine or transmission changes.. That is wildly disappointing, the tundra needs some fuel economy improvements bad. At least Ford continues to innovate.
"The Truck that's not changing at all" is fitting and accurate.
Guess there's not much money left for development after the multi-billion dollar settlement..
I just purchased a new Tacoma and love it as much as my old 98 model.
I would have considered a Tundra but there MPG just flat out stinks and has since the start. Why have they continued to ignore this going into the future
Very dissapointing....BOO!!
So...
The same over-priced, fuel-guzzling, 10 year old truck that we've come to know?
I'll pass.
more of the same, and underwhelming at that.
Wow. I'm a guess a Toyota fan but left in 2010 when I got rid of my 2008 Tundra for a Denali Sierra and since then got two more Denali Sierra HDs. I've had every model of truck Toyota basically has made in the last thirty years and would've contemplated going back if they changed something on the tundra especially the horrendous efficiency of the 5.7. What a huge disappointment and I hate to say it but I think Toyota has really lost me now. They don't care about the tundra and don't really care about the full size division.
They've always lived in their own little bubble of a world and it doesntl seem to be changing ever. Shame shame shame.
This is truly a Joke . But with Sweers at the helm I guess we should feel lucky it still has 4 wheels.
MPG wise all your arguments are valid, but take a look at the front end engine compartment design length. it seems the most compact and cab forward of all the big 3. Take a look. The bumper is not sticking out a mile from the wheels. Plop in a more efficient V8 and V6 with a good tranny, and they'd be back into the race. I think it is funny that much of the hype is about grills and refreshes, and color trim packages. The Japanese just don't play into this. One might actually be able to look over the hood and park this thing more easily.
This is why Ford dominates in truck sales and the Tundra is next to last. Ford actually updates their trucks and has regular mid-cycle refreshes. I'm sure Mike Sweers is patting himself on the back with this new tundra, which is the same truck more or less since 2007. Pathetic that Toyota doesn't capitalize on a reliable, albeit very dated, truck and dedicated fan base by building upon this truck. BTW I've owned 4 Toyota's and still drive one today.
@Angelo Pietroforte
Gauge the size of the half ton pickup market. Then, estimate what's left after Ford and GM take their share (two thirds).
When you're done, there's RAM, Toyota and Nissan competing for the remaining third of the sales volume. Each of them has some quality products but they will be hard pressed to change the mindset of the average Ford or GM half ton customer.
To me, this calculation explains it perfectly. Toyota is accustomed to market dominance. Why would they want to hustle just so they have a piece of the remaining third of the half ton pickup market.
thumbs down
@papajim
Good point. Similarly, midsize is growing fastest, but still isn't all that big. So I'm not so sure that Ford not being in it has been all that detrimental. Allows Ford to focus on their full size. I guess like Frontier who's had the same truck for years. They can iron out the bugs, squeeze out the costs, and still sell a ton of them because they can offer it at the lowest cost. A whole lot of different ways to see things.
If they would have put a locking rear diff and updated the interior I would have bought one, even with the old 5.7l and transmission. I've just narrowed down my next truck purchase to Ford or GM.
Good truck I would buy it
Typical of Toy makers, minor makeovers with no major updates; probably a smart move as maybe their bean counters calculated with the meek sales as is - there is no arguable good reason & sense to invest heavily into a complete redesign.
So I guess they will need to count on sales of fanbois and survive on past glory reliable reputation....
2007 Toyota Tundra 4WD 8 cyl, 5.7 L, Automatic (S6)
13 City / 17 Highway / 14 Combined
2017 Toyota Tundra 4WD 8 cyl, 5.7 L, Automatic (S6)
13 City / 17 Highway / 15 Combined
The Tundra, a half-ton truck so frozen in time that even the gas-powered 3/4-tons are close to matching it in fuel efficiency, while obliterating it in durability and reliability.
Boo! Too much compitition. No way!!
Okay, so I see that this is the same pattern that Toyota has taken before when it introduced the 2007 Tundra and then followed up with a mild refresh in 2011, same thing applies here after the 2014 introduction a mild 2018 refresh that will soon be followed by a major redesign of the Tundra in 2018 as a 2019 model just in time to compete with the redesigned RAM and the all new Silverado, don't fret guys, though the refresh of the 2018 model is mild at best, we know Toyota is far from done on what they need to do to stay competitive against what lies ahead within the next 2 years.
I have been waiting to purchase a new tuck and I narrowed it down to the new Ford F150 or the new and improved Tundra. An i dissapointed in the 2018 Tundra--yes. I was also dissapointed in the 2014 redo. However, I owned a 2007 Tundra after GM trucks that spent as much time being repaired as they spent on the road. My last F150 spent 45 days of the first three months of ownership in being repaired (granted it was several years ago) but the company (not the dealer) could hardly be bothered with me after I drove off the lot. The07 Toyota and now my current 2012 have over 220,000 trouble free miles and only oil changes and a set of tires each. I don't know if I can give up reliability for the next five years for a new 10 speed transmission and a glass roof and pay more money for less reliability. I can wait, and maybe I will, but I am not holding out for any great changes in the future Tundra either. I also don't know what would be the onus for Toyota to change anything anyway. The sell all they produce, they don't offer much in the way of incentives, they have great reliability and resale values.
In my opinion the Tundra is hard to drive.
The blind spots, the brakes, the steering seems to struggle and the road and wind noise.
It feels cheap and generic.
" serving as a "tweener" pickup that provides a boost in off-road capability without having to spring for the full-blown TRD Pro off-road package."
Um- no. The TRD Sport package DOES fill the same role as on the Tacoma, but that is to offer a street biased package. There has been a TRD OffRoad (not o be confused with the TRD Pro) package all along- Monotube Bilsteins, AT tires, Skid plate or two stickers, just like most other "off-road" packages.
The big 3 wish they could do what Toyota does on the Tundra. Basically no updates except cosmetic restyling and the Toyota truck plant still runs at full capacity running overtime selling every truck they make with no incentives.
Honestly Toyota should have done at least the 8 speed and D4S 5.7, but I guess when you have a plant running over 100% capacity who cares? Until the sales drop I don't think Toyota will do any major updates to the Tundra.
And yet they sell every truck they make to commercial sales not fleet sales like the others do. Go figure.
Looks like the Nazi regime has removed posts again!
Not good enough it does not advance the pickup at all.
I like it. I'm going to have to drive a Tundra one of these days.
Haven't posted here in ages--still have my '08 Tundra and still love it.
The best truck I have ever owned--I think it a plus when a manufacturer doesn't change crap and add unproven tech every year cause they HAVE TO to try and hit CAFE, etc.
I run this pickup into the ground and hope they build a 3/4 ton 1-ton in the future.
According to Dave: "If [Toyota's] car sales keep dropping like the last couple years, they will have to do something to improve the gas mileage on their trucks and large SUV's. They (Toyota) have been depending on their Camry and Corrolla to keep CAFE numbers up but those car sales have dropped like a brick."
Dave, I don't know how to tell you this, but you have this completely backwards. Corolla and Camry are the only family sedans that make the top ten sales list for 2016. Furthermore, in 2016 Toyota sold 100,000 Prius hybrids, or almost one 50 mpg hybrid for every Tundra. No other automaker has anything like that ratio of high mileage compacts to pickups. The Tundra could get 4 mpg until 2027 and Toyota would still be home free on CAFE requirements.
Expect a nicely updated truck in 2020, it may even have a new frame, maybe not though. My money is on something very close to the current F150 driveline wise. It should weigh close to 250lbs less, be interesting to see how they pull off that little trick.
Good truck but as a very loyal Tundra guy I have been salivating waiting for this truck and I too am disappointed. I have a 2104 and there is not much incentive to deal it for this truck.
I cannot believe that I may actually log into other truck manufactures to have a look!
They need a diesel option.
Have any of you complaining about Toyota not redesigning their vehicles every couple of years ever think about why they hold the resale value that they do? One reason is because they don't change that often! Anytime a manufacturer redesigns a vehicle, the ones that were manufactured before the change tumbles in value. Not to mention the fact that Toyota simply outlasts the others with less problems.
Too much compitition. No way!
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