SPY PICS: Toyota Tundra testing hits Townsville

More examples of locally-converted right-hand drive Toyota Tundra pick-up trucks have been spotted testing in Australia, this time in Townsville where the full-size dual-cab ute wearing Victorian plates was caught by an eagle-eyed carsales reader.

The latest sighting underscores Toyota Australia’s claim that its Tundra RHD development and evaluation program – conducted in partnership with Melbourne-based Walkinshaw Automotive Group – is the biggest of its kind.

It also confirms that right-hook prototypes are heading into every corner of the country.

Walkinshaw plans to have a fleet of 300 operational prototypes on Aussie roads by the end of next year as part of the final development stage.

The vehicle you see here is clearly labelled number 84, which indicates there’s plenty more around.

Just this week carsales received images from the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, showing a trio of Tundra utes undergoing some rough-road and tow testing alongside a 70 Series Toyota LandCruiser.

Among others we’ve seen was one of the very first local prototypes at a Ballan truck stop west of Melbourne.

The Australian-converted American pick-up is expected to enter local showrooms in 2024, following the Ford F-150 that arrives by mid-2023.

Both Toyota and Ford are looking to grab their own slice of the lucrative market that has been developed by the Ateco Group with the RAM 1500 and GMSV with the Chevrolet Silverado – both of which are converted to RHD (with blessings from the factory) by the Walkinshaw Group.

We’re keeping close tabs on the Tundra program, and are always keen to receive photos from our readers that show where the Toyota and Walkinshaw R&D team are putting the big ute through its paces…

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