Toyota Tundra edges closer to Australia
Local RHD conversion claimed to be world’s best; trials of 300 production-spec trucks start next year before expected 2024 releaseToyota Australia says the locally-converted right-hand drive Toyota Tundra that’s now being produced by the Walkinshaw Automotive Group will be as close to factory-spec as you can get.
Two or three RHD Tundras have already been converted and are now undergoing local verification testing as part of a plan to officially sell the all-new US-built full-size pick-up in Australia – and potentially other RHD markets – for the first time.
Next year, a further fleet of 300 Tundra trucks will roll off the line at the same Walkinshaw facility in Melbourne that also produces RAM and Chevrolet Silverado trucks, before they are tested around the country ahead of a potential release in late 2023 or early 2024.
‘Potential’ because Toyota Australia’s plan to officially release the new Tundra, which is said to be four years in the making, is subject to approval by the Japanese giant’s head office and dependent on meeting the world’s biggest car-maker’s strict quality control standards.
“Toyota has certainly set a high quality standard for us before we can bring it [the Tundra] to market,” said Toyota Motor Company Australia (TMCA) sales and marketing chief Sean Hanley.
“Our partner Walkinshaw has been outstanding. We've very pleased and proud and can't wait.”
Hanley stressed that the 300 Tundras to be produced in Victoria in 2023 will not be prototypes but fully-built production-spec vehicles that will be on-sold after the trial ends.
Before that happens, the world-first Toyota-Walkinshaw RHD Tundra program will need to be signed off by Toyota HQ chief engineer for TNGA-F models, Mike Sweers.
To avoid disappointing customers, Hanley has instructed Toyota’s Australian dealers to not take deposits or expressions of interest until the Tundra has been officially confirmed for local release.
Hanley refused to confirm which Tundra variants would become available in Australia if the program is approved, but all models will come with a 10-speed auto, four-wheel drive and a 5400kg towing capacity.
However, Toyota Australia previously said that like the upcoming Ford F-150, which will be available in Ford showrooms from mid-2023 following a similar official local conversion program – but unlike the V8-powered RAM and Silverado – the Tundra will be V6-only Down Under.
In Toyota’s case, the Tundra would be powered exclusively by a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 petrol-hybrid powertrain, which explains Toyota’s local ‘i-FORCE MAX’ trademark uncovered by carsales earlier this year, producing a combined 325kW/790Nm.
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