2014 Tacoma engines

[Flagster]

Direct injection in Tacoma and a FWD scion pickup...

http://www.tacomahq.com/1253/2014-ta...ect-injection/

[phsycle]

I got excited for a brief second reading about the new Scion trucks. I thought it would be a compact sized TRUCK, so that we have an alternative to the bloated mid-size trucks being produced today. Then it went on to say it will be unibody and FWD...

[montypower]

I'm curious... Does direct injection improve fuel efficiency or is it for power?

[Loubaru]

I'm curious... Does direct injection improve fuel efficiency or is it for power?

In theory it should improve both by causing the engine to run more efficiently...they are probably using it mainly for fuel economy though.

[bjowett]

DI versions of the 1GR-FE have been in Lexus vehicles since about 2006. The 4GR-FSE (2.5L V6) is straight DI, and the 2GR-FSE (3.5 V6) runs a dual port and DI system. I'd be surprised if Toyota has a completely new 4 cylinder, more likely a 2TR-FE with DI.

[Danimal]

So maybe one of their "sources" failed to mention that the DI 4-cylinder is actually a diesel? Wouldn't that be cool...

Dan

[Mrknowitall]

DI versions of the 1GR-FE have been in Lexus vehicles since about 2006. The 4GR-FSE (2.5L V6) is straight DI, and the 2GR-FSE (3.5 V6) runs a dual port and DI system. I'd be surprised if Toyota has a completely new 4 cylinder, more likely a 2TR-FE with DI.

Exactly right. I think we can expect a 2TR-FSE and either a 1GR-FSE or 2GR-FSE (already in production). A direct injected 4L V6 could conservatively serve up 310hp and 320lb-ft of torque, while still saving fuel. Hopefully the V6 will finally get the A760 trans (w/ double OD). For the 4 cyl, perhaps the A960 trans can go back into production or a de-contented version of the AA80, like in the FRS, which would be an AA60 of sorts.

[Toyotero]

So maybe one of their "sources" failed to mention that the DI 4-cylinder is actually a diesel? Wouldn't that be cool...

Dan

Yes!


...but unfortunately there is no chance of that here

[Martinjmpr]

I got excited for a brief second reading about the new Scion trucks. I thought it would be a compact sized TRUCK, so that we have an alternative to the bloated mid-size trucks being produced today. Then it went on to say it will be unibody and FWD...

What's wrong with that? The El Camino and Ranchero weren't FWD but they were unibody designs.

Funny thing is, the FWD/unibody pickup has been tried before, at least 4 times:

Subaru BRAT, 1979? - 84? (FWD with ability to shift into 4wd. A FWD-only version was sold in other countries but not in the US.)
Dodge Rampage - Mid 80's
VW Pickup early-mid 80's (maybe into the early 90s?)
Subaru Baja, 2004-06 (AWD with a FWD bias.)

I think there is room in the market for a FWD pickup for light duty, and if gas is expensive, they make more sense than even a so-called "compact" truck (for one thing, modern "compact" trucks like the Tacoma aren't all that compact anyway.)

I think all of the other examples except the Baja were introduced at a time (late 70's -early 80's) when gas was relatively expensive. Problem is, as soon as gas gets cheap again, people go back to their big gas guzzlers.

I think the Baja in particular was a victim of bad timing. If it had been introduced even 2 years later it would have come out at the peak of gas prices and would have made a lot more sense. But gas was still right around $1.80/gallon when Subaru gave the Baja the ax in 2005 (making 2006 the last model year.)

[Wolf14016]

Hmm.

I currently drive an 04 V8 Dakota. It serves me well, but I've been looking for something that gets a bit better mileage - the Dakota gets about 14 with my tires. I deploy to Afghanistan within the next month, and I'd planned on using the extra money I'll get for a big down payment on a Tacoma when I get back. I'm a huge fan of the look and reputation.

But now I might wait and save another year. Those new engines sound intriguing, especially for a rig that will be used mostly as a DD.