When you’re on the lookout for two dominant tendencies within the automotive world, contemplate each electrification and luxurious — as in utilizing electrical motors (both wholly or partially) to energy a automobile, and including luxurious options or trim ranges to reinforce the premium quotient (and value) of a automobile. These tendencies have performed an growing function within the new automobile market over the previous 10 years, and in the event you’re on the lookout for the newest instance, look no additional than the 2022 Toyota Tundra. We’ve already reported an the all-new Toyota Tundra, twice, but when you could catch up see our Preview article and our First Drive article.
Physique-colored bumpers with chrome inserts and a chrome tailgate deal with determine the Capstone mannequin
All caught up? Good, as a result of there’s breaking information for the brand new Toyota Tundra within the type of its just-announced “Capstone” luxurious trim degree, which represents Toyota’s most aggressive luxurious providing but for the Tundra. This trim even outranks the “1794” mannequin as the very best lux (and highest value) model. However haven’t any worry 1794 followers, your mannequin will stay within the line up, and even retain a number of benefit over Capstone (extra on that in a second).
The Capstone trim options an ordinary 14-inch central touchscreen and semi-aniline leather-based surfaces
With a Capstone trim beginning value of $75,225 (together with the Tundra’s $1,695 vacation spot cost), it’s clear Toyota is able to “money in” on the premium truck market its watched Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, and Ram harvest for a number of years. However these firms didn’t simply slap additional chrome on the skin and canopy the seats in leather-based to earn their premium pickup standing. They needed to create a fully-integrated package deal to justify the substantial value hikes seen on their high-lux trims. For Tundra to go after that very same premium truck purchaser it wants its personal array of premium options, introduced collectively in a compelling presentation.
The highly effective iForce Max hybrid drivetrain presents 437 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque
The brand new Tundra Capstone trim solutions the full-size luxurious truck query with an array of options, beginning with Toyota’s iForce Max hybrid drivetrain as the usual engine. The iForce Max hybrid makes use of a 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine mated to an electrical motor-generator and 240-cell NiMN battery pack underneath the rear seat. This mix produces a complete of 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. Toyota tuned this engine to ship its max torque at simply 2,400 rpm whereas additionally “filling in” the torque drop-off that happens in each inside combustion engine on the high and low facet of its working vary.
That is the primary Toyota Tundra with normal 22-inch wheels, completed in darkish chrome
The result’s responsive and highly effective ahead thrust all through the engine’s powerband. Mixed with the Tundra’s normal 10-speed automated transmission, this drivetrain endows the truck with speedy acceleration, distinctive towing capability (as much as 12,000 kilos), and a robust payload score (as much as 1,940 kilos). The iForce Max even presents a V8-like rumble we weren’t anticipating. Nonetheless, this hybrid drivetrain’s deal with torque appears to have impacted gas effectivity. Toyota expects EPA rankings of 20 metropolis mpg, 24 freeway mpg and 22 combined mpg for two-wheel-drive Tundras, though hybrids usually get higher metropolis (versus freeway) mpg rankings.
Each Toyota Tundra Capstone comes as a CrewMax mannequin with a 5.5-foot mattress
As a result of each Capstone model of the Tundra is configured as a CrewMax 4×4 truck, they get barely decrease mpg rankings of 19 metropolis, 22 freeway and 21 mpg combined. The Tundra’s CrewMax cab options 4 full-sized doorways and two rows of roomy seats, together with both a 5.5- or 6.5-foot mattress (Capstone solely comes with the shorter mattress size). Different normal Capstone gadgets embody body-colored grille and bumper trim contrasted with chrome inserts and a mesh grille. Capstone can also be the primary Tundra to function 22-inch wheels, in darkish chrome, plus power-deployable working boards as normal gear.
The Tundra Capstone options black-and-white contrasting leather-based and heated and cooled entrance seats
Sliding inside the brand new Capstone trim reveals a very plush cabin swathed in black-and-white semi-aniline leather-based and walnut wooden inside trim. A panoramic sunroof, acoustic facet glass, a 14-inch central touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10-inch full coloration head-up show are additionally normal on the Capstone trim. Patrons can add a number of choices, together with the Tundra’s adaptive variable (lively) suspension and its load-leveling rear air suspension. However off-road fans will wish to skip the Capstone trim, which might’t be had with a locking rear differential or the Tundra’s “Crawl Management” know-how that modulates pace when scaling obstacles. Patrons searching for these options, plus most luxurious, will wish to go along with a 1794 Tundra.
All CrewMax variations of the Toyota Tundra provide a spacious rear seat with room for 3 adults
Toyota expects the Capstone trim to symbolize 5 p.c of complete Tundra gross sales, which makes it a tiny fraction of the mannequin line. However because the home automakers have found, revenue margin on these premium trims could be substantial, and the halo impact of providing such a high-end pickup advantages the whole line. For consumers searching for a extra inexpensive model of that highly effective new iForce Max hybrid drivetrain, a Tundra 4×2 Restricted Crewmax mannequin begins at simply $53,995 (together with vacation spot cost).