Toyota Tundra spy shots indicate rear suspension upgrades

Read this article on Autoblog, thougth i'd share it here. More spy pictures on the link below

Credit : https://www.autoblog.com/2019/01/24/toyota-tundra-spy-shots-rear-suspension/#slide-7508012



While most of the tundra looked like current model , I couldn't help notice the 6 stud wheels.
Are we looking at the Tundra HD?.




The bed seems longer than the regular 5.5-Ft. for a crewmax and the wheel well arch reminds me of the tundra logo here.





Thanks

 

Its missing a lug lol and the protype has a lot of rust on it

 

And what’s this? Sway bar or link? Haha

 

Oh plus dual exhaust ?

 

@Cement_Trd lol, they only had 5 laying around from the previous model

 

Maybe independent rear suspension? Maybe they switched to coil springs in the rear?

 

The box looks longer because the cover goes over the rear of the cab up to the rear door.

 

Front fender looks more rounded also

 

Two post trailer mirrors is something they have never seen before??? Toyota has had those two mirrors for years.

 

Very interested.

The front wheels are 6 lug as well, very interesting that the rear is missing a lug nut

It looks like a trailing arm or 4-link setup in the rear. I zoomed some of the pictures on my laptop. I'm assuming coils.

 

Definitely need a better wrap job, that one sucks! lol

 

They just need to make the truck competitive. Coil suspension would be nice. The big 3 have Carplay/Android auto and good premium audio systems, Toyota does not. They have blind spot and cross detection systems, Toyota does not. They have updated interiors and LED interior and exterior lights, Toyota does not. They have LSD's and the options of locking diffs, Toyota does not. They have fuel economy and 8-10 speed transmissions, Toyota does not. They have higher payload ratings than Toyota.

Toyota seriously needs to address these shortcomings if they want to continue to be competitive. Toyota reliability is only going to get them so much further in this marketplace because the truck is becoming dated. Also, please Toyota....address the bed rusting/ rot issues (which I didn't know was a thing until I found out mine is rotting from the bottom up). Maybe be the first in the industry to use a full composite bed in a full-size like in the Taco? Can't rust if it ain't metal!

 

It's a HD Tacoma!

 

They can keep their 8 and 10 speed transmissions though.

 

Toyota does have blind spot (BSM) and cross detection. I have both on my Tundra.

 

Looks like it's getting a much bigger nose from this pic, which may confirm the Dodge hire and his influence. You can see what looks to be some of the some of the grille/hood extending to the light housing and cutting off the inner edge of each one.

 

My gen. 3, 2017, has, of course, the 6 speed. I've noted before and will note again here. 6th gear is 100% useless. 5th gear is 50% useless. Why somebody wants a 7th gear. And then an 8th gear. And then a 9th gear. AND THENNNNNNNNNNNNNN a 10th gear..........is resoundingly beyond me. But hey. Last night I stayed at home and not a Holiday Inn Express.

 

Hopefully it’s not an atrocity. I still can’t believe they hired that guy. Now all the new trucks can look stupid together. I’m hoping they’re sticking with the same theme not changing the tundra too much in the looks department. But that’s me.

 

I guess some people like their truck hunting for gears constantly. Pick up your speed 5 mph... down shift! That’s what torque is for. I want my truck to lug the gear a little bit.

 

No. That's me too.

 

I'm just the opposite. I've always liked the way Ram's look (except for this new model). I'm hoping for a drastic redesign of the Tundra.

 

From the looks of the tail light covers it looks like they're going to a second gen looking tail light, which btw, I hate. I hope not...

 

I thought the exact same.

 

I thought this guys the same dude who just re-designed the ram. I owned a 2002 and still think it was a great looking truck! The new one looks a lot like the Durango front end. I guess trying to make it more aerodynamic?

 

I stand corrected.

TundraMcGov and 15whtrd, just stating compared to the others, we've got a 6spd and they have upped the anti with 8 and 10. Usually higher gears are simply for highway cruising, yes. On the 8 speed the lower ratios are closer together usually though no? Which "in theory" leads to lower RPM under light to medium acceleration for the same speed effect, in theory that leads to better city fuel economy, right? I don't really mind if the new one doesn't have more than 6 speeds, but they need to address some of the other points I mentioned...in my opinion.

 

May be, I don't recall. The headlights look old in that pic though, so I'm assuming they are just placeholders for now. You can see some other details in the grille as well and it looks like they're keeping the hood bulge in some form.

 

Makes me want to wrap my truck up and see if anyone takes pictures of it !

 

I heard out on the highway they were pretty nice. Around town they skip shifts causing the truck to feel like a slug. And I think you are correct, the final drive is the same, so I doubt it’s just multiple overdrive’s. I personally don’t find sixth gear useless out on the highway. Going up hills it’s pretty damn useless though LOL

 

I would be the guy taking pictures and then sharing them here. That would be pretty funny.

 

Agreed...we take my truck on our road trips because it's bigger, quieter, and more comfortable than my wife's car despite the dismal fuel mileage, if I didn't have 6th gear it would be terrible on the flat spots. Regardless of what they change in the new truck...I'm keeping mine for a LONG time