Toyota Motor Corporation Japan has approved the right-hand-drive re-engineering project for the Tundra pick-up truck, which will go on sale in November 2024.
Toyota Australia partnered with Walkinshaw Automotive Group to re-engineer the US-built Tundra, produced in right-hand drive at Walkinshaw’s manufacturing facility in Melbourne.
It is the first time Toyota has worked with a third-party organisation on such a project anywhere in the world. It is the culmination of six years of development to ensure that the right-hand drive Tundra meets Toyota’s quality, durability, and reliability standards.
Toyota Australia spokesperson Sean Hanley said this momentous achievement sets a new benchmark for re-engineering quality to give customers an even more excellent choice of vehicles to meet their needs.
“This is not just simple left to right-hand drive conversion,” Hanley says.
“The Tundra has been entirely re-engineered by Toyota engineers working closely with Walkinshaw and uses many parts and components from other Toyota vehicles, such as the LandCruiser 300 Series, to ensure the highest quality.
“We couldn’t have done it without the cooperation of Walkinshaw, Toyota North America, and the hundreds of customers evaluating and reporting on the vehicle’s performance in real-world conditions as part of the Tundra Insider Program that kicked off in September last year.
“It was a massive effort on behalf of everyone involved, and I’m proud that we have been able to gain final approval from our parent company for what a global Toyota is,” he says.
The new Tundra will be launched in Limited grade with a new Australian top-of-the-range premium version to join in the second quarter of 2025.
Both versions sit on the TNGA-F platform that underpins the LandCruiser 300 Series and are powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 powertrain that generates 326kW of power and 790Nm of torque and drives through a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The Tundra’s engine is mated to a part-time 4WD system with a dual-range transfer case and offers a 4.5-tonne braked towing capacity.
In Limited guise, the Tundra will be equipped with 20-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, leather-accented seats with power adjustment, heating and ventilation for the driver and front passenger, a 14-inch multimedia touchscreen with a 12-speaker JBL audio system and wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto compatibility, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control, and a trailer brake controller.
The new premium grade is distinguished outside by its unique grille, black-painted alloy wheels, black-accented tailgate, panoramic moonroof, and other cosmetic changes.
Standard equipment includes leather-accented front seats with a massage function, heating and ventilation for the rear outboard positions, a power-adjustable steering column and heated steering wheel, and a 10.9-inch head-up display.
Customers currently participating in the Tundra Insider Program will continue to drive and provide feedback on their vehicles until the program’s 12-month end date.
Further information on the new Tundra will be released closer to the launch.
