Redesigned from the ground up, Toyota’s all-new 2016 midsize Tacoma pickup is going to feature a new V6 gasoline engine option that the OEM touts will provide more power while sipping less fuel.
“This truck is a bad ass,” said Bill Fay, group VP and GM for Toyota’s U.S. division, during the Tacoma’s unveiling at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week.
“The new Tacoma will be powered by a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine and an all-new 3.5-liter Atkinson cycle V6 equipped with Toyota’s D-4S technology, featuring both direct and port fuel injection,” he added.
“Both engines will be paired to a new six-speed automatic transmission with electronic shift [and] the V6 can also be mated to a new six-speed manual transmission,” Fay pointed out. “We don’t have MPG [miles per gallon] and power numbers yet, but the math is pretty simple: you’re going to end up with the most powerful and most fuel-efficient Tacoma ever.”
Primary development of the 2016 Tacoma took place at the Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, MI, the OEM said, where engineers added high-strength steel to the pickup’s frame to enhance rigidity and overall strength, with ultra-high strength steel integrated into the body shell using a new hot stamping process to reduce weight.
“The tailgate features an integrated spoiler for improved aerodynamics and a stamped Tacoma logo,” Fay noted during the press event, livestreamed from Detroit over the Internet. “The tailgate also adds an easy lowering feature, which allows it to slowly retract, preventing it from slamming down.
The OEM is also adding an array of what it calls “premium features” as options including:
- Qi wireless charging
- Smart key with push-button start
- Leather-trimmed seats
- Power moon-roof
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Enhanced touchscreen audio
- Blind-spot monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Toyota added that new 2016 Tacoma will be offered in five grades in both 4x2 and 4x4 configurations and should be available in dealerships by late summer this year.
