2012 Tacoma Leaked

[Bigmikelakers]

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.

Theres a pic of the interior out? I wanna see it. Havent seem to find any yet.

Yeah you're right. The Dakota is gone and so is the Ranger. I think the Colorado is going bye bye too. I even read rumors about the Frontier being discontinued after 2013. Why is everyone ditching the midsize truck market? I think its probably because midsize trucks got so damn big that Chevy, Ford, Dodge, and Nissan dont want it to take away sales of their bigger trucks.

 

[Thai]

Theres a pic of the interior out? I wanna see it. Havent seem to find any yet.

Yeah you're right. The Dakota is gone and so is the Ranger. I think the Colorado is going bye bye too. I even read rumors about the Frontier being discontinued after 2013. Why is everyone ditching the midsize truck market? I think its probably because midsize trucks got so damn big that Chevy, Ford, Dodge, and Nissan dont want it to take away sales of their bigger trucks.

It is rather odd for car manufacturers to cut midsize trucks...given the economy and fuel prices. But, this may be because midsize trucks don't get much better fuel economy than their bigger brothers??

 

[Quentin]

It is rather odd for car manufacturers to cut midsize trucks...given the economy and fuel prices. But, this may be because midsize trucks don't get much better fuel economy than their bigger brothers??

Basically, big V8 engines make lots of low end torque... enough to make the required power to keep on moving down the highway even when attached to a tall gear. This means that the fuel economy is very similar to the mid-size trucks on the EPA test. I believe that there is an appreciable difference in the real world, especially if you don't drive all highway all the time, but that is just my opinion of my observations.

The second factor is that there are pretty high margins in the truck market and this affords the automakers to throw a ton of cash on the hood to move metal while still profiting. Since America likes to get the most for our money, would you pay $20k for a 4WD Colorado with a lumpy I5 and questionable build quality when you can be in a Silverado with similar EPA ratings for $2k more? People are buying more truck than they need because it is a better perceived value.

Bigmikelakers - I have seen the drawings on the TIS. I also have super secret access, so it might not show up on the regular TIS access that consumers can get.

 

[Uneek]

While for some brands you can get a full size truck for little money over the midsize, but a full size is a PITA in the urban city when it comes parking. My short bed DC Taco barely fits in some of the spots we have and in parking lots with narrow aisles a full size probably can't even get into a space.

I love to have a Tundra CrewMax, but it'll be tough to fit it in half of the places around the city. So a Taco DC with the short bed works out nicely for my needs.

 

[Quentin]

While for some brands you can get a full size truck for little money over the midsize, but a full size is a PITA in the urban city when it comes parking. My short bed DC Taco barely fits in some of the spots we have and in parking lots with narrow aisles a full size probably can't even get into a space.

I love to have a Tundra CrewMax, but it'll be tough to fit it in half of the places around the city. So a Taco DC with the short bed works out nicely for my needs.

Oh yeah, I 100% agree that a smaller vehicle has huge advantages in cities. Most city dwellers aren't looking at trucks, though. Most of the truck market sees bigger as better.

Even though I live in the country, I would take a Taco over a Tundra. Yeah, it has an older drivetrain and the mileage is supposedly* very similar, but I'm so much more comfortable in the Taco than the Tundra. The Tundra (and all the other full sizers) are enormous. I'd hate driving them on a daily basis. The Tacoma, on the other hand, especially the 6MT like my dad's '11 access cab TRD off road, feels downright agile in comparison. It is actually quite a lot of fun to drive around. The 4Runner is as big as I would be comfortable driving.

* The only time full size trucks seem to come close to their EPA numbers is on a road trip. In local driving, it seems like everyone is a lot closer to 15 or 16 mpg. My dad's Taco, on the other hand, usually gets 19 or 20mpg driving local... a hair better than the EPA rating. When you start adding braking for turns and accelerating back up to speed, the extra weight really starts to punish the full sizers.

 

[Bigmikelakers]

Looks like the 2012 Tacoma's interior gets a 5th gen 4runner steering wheel and gauges.

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[Uneek]

It's got a new radio that sports a bit more color in its display.

Appears to have the original 4.0 V6 and not the new dual VVT-i in the 5th gen 4Runner.

 

[Bigmikelakers]

I read on the Tacomaworld forums that the Tacoma is supposed to get new engines in 2013 or 2014. Maybe the Tacoma and 4runner will get an upgraded version of the dual VVT-i V6 since 2013/2014 will be about the same time the 5th gen 4runner gets it mid gen refresh.