2012 Tacoma Leaked

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WOW, looks like I'll be keeping my '05 even after it rusts apart. Looks like none of the sheet metal has changed appears that I can just take the grille, headlights, bumper and maybe hood off my '05 and slap it on the 2012.

I guess Toyota found a use for the left over 2006-09 4Runner bumpers. What the hell were they thinking. It's a half @$$ed redesign and they just screwed with the grille and mashed/adapted the headlight to fit. The internal and layout of the headlight looks exactly same as my '05 except where the grille meets.

Each update to the 2nd gen just gets uglier and uglier. First it was the ugly belt buckle grille, now just they screw the whole thing up instead. Toyota sure isn't trying to even make decent looking products anymore. More on that to come....
 
I guess Toyota is just thinking, "if it ain't broke don't fix it". This reminds me a lot of the 2001 Tacoma when they just threw a new grill and some other minor improvements on it. I'm thinking it won't be completely redesigned till 2014/2015. Maybe this 2012 refresh has a redesigned interior? Doubtful though.

I actually kinda of enjoy Toyota keeping around the Tacoma's design for a while. Meaning I can buy a 2005 Tacoma and it will still look new. Even the 4th gen 4runners to an extent still look new to me since theyre also based on the 2nd gen Tacoma.
 
Well, Nissan Frontier is on its way out too. :( Unfortunately, without a worthy opponent, Toyota sees no reason to make any major changes. No rear disc brakes. No full boxed frame. I would hope that a new powertrain makes the cut...but, somehow, i have my doubts.

Toyota and Honda sure is taking things conservatively these days despite the competition zooming by them at record pace!
 
Take a look at the grille....looks very much like the Prado perhaps this is not a US model...Steering is on the left.....Not sure if I like it or not..
 
Bigmikelakers said:
I guess Toyota is just thinking, "if it ain't broke don't fix it". This reminds me a lot of the 2001 Tacoma when they just threw a new grill and some other minor improvements on it. I'm thinking it won't be completely redesigned till 2014/2015. Maybe this 2012 refresh has a redesigned interior? Doubtful though.

I actually kinda of enjoy Toyota keeping around the Tacoma's design for a while. Meaning I can buy a 2005 Tacoma and it will still look new. Even the 4th gen 4runners to an extent still look new to me since theyre also based on the 2nd gen Tacoma.
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True, usually the next generation models tend to make the prior generation look dated. Not the case with the 4th and 5th gen 4Runner, IMO. The first gen Tacoma had a 10-yr run, introduced as a 1995.5 model. I thought the belt grille and LED taillights were a bit lacking for a refresh. This '12 change is probably that update.

Actually, the 2nd gen Tacoma (2005-present) is based on the 4th gen 4Runner (2003-09).

Overall, I'm not digging the '12 update. I much prefer the look of my '05. I just need the backup camera on from the 2009+.
 
Just to clarify, this is not the new 3rd gen tacoma, just another mid-gen refresh for the 2nd gen tacos, similar to the ones 4runners got in 1999 and 2006. Yes the 2nd gen tacoma already had a refresh in 09, but this is just another refresh that toyota is using to keep the truck updated while they stall for the new generation in a few years.

I really hope to be able to make a 3rd generation tacoma my next vehicle. But if toyota doesnt fix the things that Thai mentioned (switching to the dual-VVT 4.0 and the full box frame) and a few other small things (manual transfer-case, properly geared manual trans.), I can see myself finding a new brand for my next vehicle.


And yes I agree on this 2012 update, UGLY! Looks like it has a huge underbite going on.
 
Thai said:
Toyota and Honda sure is taking things conservatively these days despite the competition zooming by them at record pace!
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X2. Honda: The reintroduced Civic is a disappointment. The "fun to drive" is gone from it. I still think it's nice, but if the driving dynamics mimic that of a Corolla, then it's over for the Civic. The Accord is blah, so is the Pilot & Ridgeline. A new CRV is due this year, but I'm not keeping my hopes up. Toyota: I was looking forward to the mid cycle refresh of the 4Runner, but after seeing this taco, I'm not sure I want to see it. I agree, THAI, that Honda/Toyota are letting their guard down. Hyundia/Kia are gaining FAST on the car department. Hyundai/Kia's SUVs are still crap, but that's my opinion, but that may change. I'm concerned with Honda/Toyota, lately, their products are just "dumpy" and forgettable (but still reliable and solid, but that's not good enough anymore). :sobbing:
 
4-Ripcord said:
I really hope to be able to make a 3rd generation tacoma my next vehicle. But if toyota doesnt fix the things that Thai mentioned (switching to the dual-VVT 4.0 and the full box frame) and a few other small things (manual transfer-case, properly geared manual trans.), I can see myself finding a new brand for my next vehicle.
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Hate to be a Debbie Downer or Negative Nancy, but I doubt we'll see a fully box frame from Toyota for their trucks. The 2nd gen Tundra was from the ground up, it's got open box in the rear section. I forget the silly name marketing came for the poor decision, I think it was Triple Tech. The little pickup that was made in Japan (last year in 1995) prior to the introduction of "Tacoma" had a fully boxed frame, but Toyota decided it was ok to cheapen it and doubt they'll go back. The second gen Tacoma has a plastic bed. I think we will see the updated 4.0 V6. Nissan/Infiniti is starting to appeal to me. Toyota is now on the same level as other brands and not my "go to" brand anymore. Some of their models are still front runners, but many have fallen off.

Bigmikelakers said:
Didn't they just change the grill for a refresh in 2011? Why change it again so soon?
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From garbage to scrap/junk. I thought Toyota was back on the upswing for some of their designs, but nope, not anymore. Seems to be taking the same path as Mercedes Benz. Both were doing pretty well the last decade, but they're slipping again. Look at the Lexus GS, Scion tC, Corolla refresh and tomorrow we'll see if Toyota continues down the path of FUBAR'ing their designs with the Camry debut.

CookieRoe said:
X2. Honda: The reintroduced Civic is a disappointment. The "fun to drive" is gone from it. I still think it's nice, but if the driving dynamics mimic that of a Corolla, then it's over for the Civic. The Accord is blah, so is the Pilot & Ridgeline. A new CRV is due this year, but I'm not keeping my hopes up. Toyota: I was looking forward to the mid cycle refresh of the 4Runner, but after seeing this taco, I'm not sure I want to see it. I agree, THAI, that Honda/Toyota are letting their guard down. Hyundia/Kia are gaining FAST on the car department. Hyundai/Kia's SUVs are still crap, but that's my opinion, but that may change. I'm concerned with Honda/Toyota, lately, their products are just "dumpy" and forgettable (but still reliable and solid, but that's not good enough anymore). :sobbing:
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Honda has been letting me down since the early 2000s. The Ridgeline is a joke. The new Odyssey WTF. The update for the Accord, I guess you can take something ugly and make it uglier.
 
Most of the complaints seem to be of the appearance variety which are subjective but some of you guys are commenting on some things Toyota is dropping the ball on which most of the ire seems to be the lack of a V8 in their smaller trucks but I doubt Toyota is going to make that big jump any time soon and like Thai stated they are taking things conservatively and with the bumps and bruises Toyota has endured for the last half decade I don't blame them but on the bright side the Camry is still the best selling car in America.
 
The way I see it is you can either continue make the truck big enough to need the v8, or you can make it small enough to be just fine with the v6.

It seems the trend among auto makers is the former of those. I wish toyota would go with the latter though, the 2nd gen tacomas are bigger than the 1st gen tundras for crying out loud. But you know what they say about wishing..
 
I don't think the 2nd gen Tacoma is big as the first gen Tundra. It's probably as big as the T100. It doesn't hold 4x8' materials between the wheel well.

I hope the next gen Tacoma doesn't grow or shrink. If it grows, it will be a Tundra. (I don't think the Tundra can grow, cause Toyota made as big as it could go with needing cab running lights.) It's prefect the way it is now. A lot of people say it's gotten too big compared to the original Tacoma and compact trucks before the Tacoma. We had a 1990 Toyota truck and my uncle still has his '94. That thing is tiny. The Tacoma is a good size truck and it works out for comfort.
 
Still don't like the straight back on the wheel wells.

As to competition, when a Korean company finally makes a small pick-up it may have some. It definitely doesn't need to be bigger, as the Tundra does that job.

I agree that Honda's line up is a joke. The Ridgeline is not a truck. The Pilot is not an SUV.
 
Honestly, I rather have a 2001-04 Tacoma double cab or extended cab than a 2nd gen Tacoma. The only thing I like about the 2nd gens are the interiors. Seems like the 1st gens are damn near bulletproof from what I read and their resale values seem to be even better than the 2nd gens. I have seen low mileage double cabs still going for well over 15k even with high mileage. I think its because the market for them seems to be shrinking. Its getting harder and harder to find low mileage (under 100k miles) ones. Give me a black 1st gen TRD V6 Double Cab anyday over the new ones.
 
I read some more info on the 2012 Tacoma. Its supposed to get a new interior. My guess it will probably be like the 4runner's. But, it will not get the 270HP V6. Rumor has it a new V6 will be introduced for the Tacoma when its completely redesigned in 2014/2015.
 
Bigmikelakers said:
I read some more info on the 2012 Tacoma. Its supposed to get a new interior. My guess it will probably be like the 4runner's. But, it will not get the 270HP V6. Rumor has it a new V6 will be introduced for the Tacoma when its completely redesigned in 2014/2015.
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Interior is practically the same as current. Some materials change, colors, slight shape differences on some of the trim pieces. Nothing like the 5th gen 4Runner.

I like the new look, but it really is just a refresh. The lack of competition in the midsize truck segment means that there isn't a huge chance of sales tanking if they put off major updates for another couple years. This is precisely why competition is a good thing for the consumer. No competition = stagnation.
 
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