With its
all new Tundra set to go on sale this month, Toyota rounds out its 1/2-ton
pickup lineup with the introduction of the four door, super sized CrewMax.
The Tundra
CrewMax is the third cab configuration offered, joining the two door Regular
Cab and smaller, four door Double Cab - both announced in 2006. It's all
about Toyota wanting to make a statement with truck buyers that its serious
and here to stay in the full size pickups.
Although
General Motors, Ford, and Nissan offer crew cab options, only the Dodge
Ram Mega Cab truly competes in this inner space race. See below for comparison.
Specs
(1/2-ton)
Toyota
Tundra CrewMax
Doge
Ram Mega Cab
Engine
5.7-liter
iForce V8
5.7-liter
HEMI V8
Horsepower
381
hp
345
hp
Torque
401
lb-feet
375
lb-feet
Transmission
6-speed
Automatic
5-speed
Automatic
Interior Space
131
cubic-feet
143.2
cubic-feet
Front / Rear
Seat Leg Room
42.5
/ 44.5 inches
41
/ 44.2 inches
Front / Rear
Head Room
40
/ 38.7 inches
40.8
/ 40.5 inches
Front / Rear
Shoulder Room
66.6
/ 65.4 inches
67
/ 66.5 inches
Front / Rear
Hip Room
63
/ 62.6 inches
64.9
/ 64.4 inches
Max Towing
10,800
lbs
10,700
lbs
PUTC asked
Toyota's Chief Engineer for North American Products, Yuichiro Obu, about
why Toyota perceived a need for such a large cab in the CrewMax, especially
amidst reports of disappointing sales of Mega Cab Rams. Yuichiro responded
that the CrewMax configuration had been planned even before the arrival
of the Mega Cab because full size truck buyers surveyed by Toyota voiced
a need for a very large cab.
Obu is pictured
below along with Toyota Motor Sales Executive Vice President Jim Lentz
who introduced the CrewMax to journalists at the show.
Toyota is
confident it will sell 200,000 full size pickups by the end of this calendar
year. The CrewMax is expected to make up approximately 20% of all 2007
Tundra sales. Regular cab is projected at 15% and Double Cab will take
the balance at 65% of sales.
Toyota also
announced power and fuel economy figures for the Tundra lineup. The 4.7-liter
iForce V8 will crank out 236 horsepower, while the new 5.7-liter iForce
V8 will provide the most power among 1/2-ton pickups, at 381 horses. And
the 5.7-liter will hammer out 401 lb-feet of torque - as much as some
heavy duty 3/4-ton and 1-ton pickups used to provide just a few years
back. 4x2 models achieve fuel economy of 16 city and 20 highway, while
4x4 models will get 14/18.
In 2009 Toyota will
offer an E85 ethanol capable version of its 5.7-liter.
The CrewMax
Tundra is expected to arrive at Toyota dealers in early February. Pricing
has not been announced.
