Surprisingly to everyone, Toyota Tundra is the most desired pickup truck and has such a vast history even though it has existed for only two decades. Most trucks that have reached the Tundra’sTundra’s status have long and prehistoric descriptions, but the Toyota Tundra is an exception.
Sales associates of used cars serving Santa Ana tell us that the Tundra is going into its third generation after 22 years in production. Considering the Big T has been around for a short time, it has made an enormous impression. When you compare the Tundra to one of its competitors, which was first produced in 1948, it doesn’t even hold a flame to the Tundra’sTundra’s massive share of the U.S. truck market in such a relatively minute amount of time. Although 2020 was a rough year for everyone, the Tundra went home to 109,203 U.S. buyers.
Used cars near Santa Ana like the Tundra all started because Toyota wanted to sell a vehicle to a place where people would inevitably buy it. Anyone can tell you right off the bat that the United States is probably the only country in the world where people enjoy driving pickups just for the sheer joy and gratification they get when doing so. Toyota wanted to take a bite out of this segment of the American market, so it decided to build its full-size pickup in Indiana.
Presently, the new Tundra still provides what the people have come to love about the first one, and that is outstanding reliability with V8 power in a combination that mimics its SUVs. The brand new Tundra appears to be even more enticing than the present-day model. Here is how America’s favorite and most significant pickup matured over the years.
1992: Just Keeping It T100
The T100 debuted in 1992 and was developed and manufactured by Hino, a Toyota commercial vehicle subsidiary. The T100 was a round peg in a square hole that was built in Tokyo, then they whacked on a 25 percent U.S. import tax, and it sold for more than the price of its V-8 competitor. Although that import tax didn’t do the T100 any favors, it was the fact that the T100 didn’t come in a V-8 that made it a hard pass. So, this small and expensive truck that generated 150 horsepower and had a V-6 engine couldn’t compete with that, and sadly it didn’t. In 1995, Toyota gave it a larger V-6 with 190 horsepower and 40 pound-feet of additional torque, but it was hardly any zest to satisfy even the most average truck buyer.
1999: First Generation
The first-ever Toyota Tundra debuted to the masses besides spotting out the difference between a llama and alpaca at the 1998 Indiana State Fair. The truck was built at the Toyota Motor manufacturing plant in Princeton, Indiana. This was the first generation Tundra, and it was the first full-size pickup built in North America from a Japanese carmaker. Presently, the Highlander, Sienna, and Sequoia are manufactured there, but Toyota decided to move the production of the Tundra to Texas in 2008, and it is still there today. Structurally, the Tundra was smaller than the other full-size pickups around at the time – about eight inches shorter than its competitors.
2003: Hollywood’s Calling
The Tundra made its Hollywood debut in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. During one particular scene, the Tundra takes an immense beating, and because of this, a special edition Tundra T3 exists. It was a unique package that buyers could only receive on the Tundra SR5 Access Cab rear-drive V-8 models.
2008: Second Generation
You know the saying, “Everything is bigger in Texas.” So, to make the Tundra “Texas-sized,” the Japanese carmaker decided to move production to San Antonio, Texas, and this is where the production of brand-new trucks remains today. Eventually, it surpassed its 90 percent shell, with six body and bed configurations, and its total length increased by about 10 inches.
Also, Toyota replaced the suicide-door AccessCab extended cab with a double cab that has front-hinged doors. Plus, customers got more engine options and included the Tacoma’sTacoma’s 236 horsepower 4.0-liter V-6 for entry-level Tundras, 381 horsepower 5.7-liter V-8, and the faithful 276 horsepower 4.7-liter V-8 from the previous truck. Only the 5.7-liter got the new six-speed automatic. When the second generation was introduced, it did away with manual-transmission Tundras.
2012: Space Shuttle Shift
What do you do when the Space Shuttle Endeavour needs a lift from Los Angeles International Airport to the California Science Center? When that happens, you go for plan’ plan’ B,” which is to call your friend with a pickup! A Tundra CrewMax with 381 horsepower 5.7-liter V-8 with four-wheel drive helped to tow the Endeavour. Before they could start moving the shuttle, the removal of power lines, traffic signals, and street lights had to be carried out to adapt to the sheer size of the shuttle plus transporter, which slapped on 292,500 pounds. It was a 12-mile journey, and the tow only took five minutes, but it was very cool to watch! You usually call in a force of robotic vehicles, but the space subtle was too heavy to cross the manchester bridge.
2021: Third Generation
The 2022 Toyota tundra marks the start of its third generation, and there are some trailblazing changes. The reliable 5.7-liter V-8 has been replaced with a 389 horsepower twin-turbo V-8 with 479 pound-feet of torque. There is also the addition of a hybrid powertrain, with 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. Either engine receives a 10-speed automatic and a revised suspension. The last truck had rear leaf springs, while the third generation has a coil-spring multilink that provides a more controlled ride. Also, an air-spring suspension has been added, with electronically controlled dampers. The brand new Tundra has a towing capacity of up to 12,000 pounds. Plus, the interior gets an optional 14.0-inch infotainment system, the biggest yet seen on a pickup today.