Toyota Touts the Maximum Tundra; Pledges E85 Version in 2009

7 January 2007

The Tundra CrewMax.

Toyota used its opening press conference of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to unveil its new maximum full-size truck: the 2007 Tundra CrewMax. This largest version of the Tundra joins its Regular Cab and Double Cab cousins on the market in March.

In introducing the vehicle, Toyota Motor Sales executive vice president Jim Lentz said that the company expects to sell 200,000 Tundras this coming year after selling 124,508 units this year. Toyota also expects to sell 150,000 Prius units in 2007, and to crest the 250,000 mark for the combined sales of all its hybrid models in the US this year, according to Lentz.

An all-new 5.7-liter i-Force V8 engine is available for all the Tundra models. The 5.7-liter engine develops 381 hp (284 kW) at 5,600 rpm and 401 lb-ft (544 Nm) of torque at 3,600 rpm. Tundra 4x2 and 4x4 models equipped with the 5.7-liter engine will have city/highway fuel economy rating of 16/20 mpg and 14/18 mpg respectively.

The i-Force 5.7 V8 uses Dual VVT-i to control valve timing and overlap on both the intake and the exhaust valves, helping to optimize power, fuel efficiency and emissions.

The 5.7-liter engine’s 4x2 fuel economy rating is better than that of the 4.7-liter V8, which clocks in at 15/18 mpg city/highway and almost equivalent to that of the 4.0-liter V6, with 17/20 mpg respectively.

Toyota is matching the 5.7-liter engine exclusively with a new six-speed automatic. Next year, select 2009 Tundra models equipped with the 5.7-liter V8 will offer flex-fuel capability with E85 ethanol.