Autoweek Confirms 2005 V8

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Toyota giving next-generation full-size Tundra more power
MARK RECHTIN | Automotive News
Posted Date: 8/10/04
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Toyota Division is improving its truck engine lines to strengthen the Tundra's position in the full-sized pickup segment.

Toyota wants the upgrades to help the aging Tundra to compete in particular with the Ford F-150, which leads the market segment, and the new Nissan Titan.

For the 2005 model year, the Japanese automaker will give the base Tundra a new 4.0-liter V6 engine that generates 245 hp and 282 pounds-feet of torque. Both figures represent big gains over the current 190-hp, 3.4-liter engine, which has 220 pounds-feet of torque.

A six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic accompanies the V6. For its 4.7-liter V8, Toyota reworked the engine with variable-valve timing. That will increase its horsepower to 282 from 240. Torque will increase by 10 pounds-feet to 325. For 2005, a five-speed automatic transmission accompanies the V8.

A redesigned Tundra is scheduled to debut in summer 2006.

U.S. sales of the Tundra increased by 11.4 percent in the first seven months of 2004 over the year-ago period, to 63,275.

Last year, Toyota released a four-door Tundra that rode on a 140.6-inch wheelbase and was 230.1 inches long. The automaker developed those dimensions to respond to industry criticisms that the Tundra was a "seven-eighths-scale" full-sized truck.

The V8 engine changes also apply to the 2005 Sequoia large SUV and the 4Runner lower mid-range SUV.

The Sequoia's four-wheel-drive system also will change. A Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential will replace the current locking center differential.

An air suspension system also will become available on the Sequoia.

 

[peter78]

I like the idea that the Tundra will get the 4.0, the old 3.4 V6 was just too small. My second thought is the V8 will now be the "new, unproven" engine. 282 horsepower for the 4Runner sounds really good to me.

 

[spyne]

My second thought is the V8 will now be the "new, unproven" engine. 282 horsepower for the 4Runner sounds really good to me.

This is mechanically the same proven engine that's been in the Sequoia, Lexis and 4Runner for a while now. The only change is variable valve timing, so it should be very reliable and dependable. Since torque is just up 10 ft lbs from the current engine it sounds like the extra power will only be available in the higher RPM ranges though. There probably won't be much extra grunt down low, not that the current engine lacks in that department anyway.

 

[Flashcrunch]

It would be pretty sweet if they gave us the 282 HP instead of 270. The truck is quick enough off the line with the current V8. Looking forward to see the possible mpg increase as well. More bang for the buck.

 

[peter78]

This is mechanically the same proven engine that's been in the Sequoia, Lexis and 4Runner for a while now. The only change is variable valve timing, so it should be very reliable and dependable. Since torque is just up 10 ft lbs from the current engine it sounds like the extra power will only be available in the higher RPM ranges though. There probably won't be much extra grunt down low, not that the current engine lacks in that department anyway.

You may have a point, but remember they are adding new technology to a old engine and I really don't remember variable valve technology being added to a cast iron block engine. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think variable valve timing has only been on aluminium block engines and new designed ones at that. Anyway, the V8 won't really be the tried and tested V8, it will have more complexity and more horsepower, something at odds with reliability. Hopefully things will go smoothly.

 

[04'Sport4WD]

I wonder if our v8's "quiet power" will give way to a growling and vibrating top end ala the v6 runner and my girlfriends gt-s celica. I wonder what the hp curve will look like also...my girlfiends celica with vvti-l (gt-s celica making 180hp) makes only something like 120hp all the way to 6k rpms where the second set of lifters kicks in. At 6k, you get an extra sixty horsepower, but at a cost of 4x the noise and vibration. It may be refined to a point where this isn't a factor, but it's something to consider.

 

[peter78]

I wonder what the hp curve will look like also...my girlfiends celica with vvti-l (gt-s celica making 180hp) makes only something like 120hp all the way to 6k rpms where the second set of lifters kicks in. At 6k, you get an extra sixty horsepower, but at a cost of 4x the noise and vibration

I have a little car with a 1.6 liter engine that revs high and I can honestly say I have been up past 6,000 RPM only a few times in it's life. Hopefully the V8 change in valve timing will be much lower in RPM's, maybe something like 3,000 RPM. That is one thing I am concerned about, since the V8 is based on lower RPM and cast iron block, how well will it take to variable valve timing?