After several years of testing and customer trials, including with fleets, Toyota’s full-size Tundra pickup will officially go on sale in Australia in November 2024 following final approval of the local re-engineering project by Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan.
Toyota Australia partnered with Walkinshaw Automotive Group to re-engineer the US-built Tundra from left-hand drive to right-hand drive, with the vehicle to be produced at Walkinshaw’s manufacturing facility in Melbourne.
This is the first time Toyota has worked with a third-party organisation for such a project anywhere in the world and is the culmination of six years of development to ensure the right-hand drive Tundra meets Toyota’s exacting global quality, durability and reliability standards.
Toyota Australia Vice President Sales Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said this was a momentous achievement that sets a new benchmark for re-engineering quality to give its customers even greater choice of vehicles to meet their specific needs.
“This is not just a “simple” left to right-hand drive conversion,” Mr Hanley said.
“The Tundra has been completely re-engineered by Toyota engineers working in close collaboration with Walkinshaw and uses many parts and components from other Toyota vehicles such as LandCruiser 300 Series to ensure the very highest quality standards.
“We couldn’t have done it without the great cooperation of Walkinshaw, Toyota North America, and the hundreds of customers that have been evaluating and reporting on the vehicle’s performance in real-world conditions as part of the Tundra Insider Program that kicked off in September last year.
“It really was a massive effort on behalf of everyone involved and I’m proud that we have been able to gain final approval from our parent company for what is a global Toyota first,” he said.
The new Tundra will initially be launched in Limited grade with a new Australian top-of-the-range premium version to join it in Q2, 2025.
Both versions sit on the proven TNGA-F platform that underpins the LandCruiser 300 Series and are powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 i-FORCE MAX powertrain that generates 326kW of power and 790Nm of torque and drives through a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The Tundra’s powerful engine is mated to a part-time 4WD system with a dual-range transfer case and offers a huge 4.5-tonne braked towing capacity (non mention of payload).
In Limited guise, the Tundra will be very well equipped with 20-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, leather-accented seats with power adjustment, heating and ventilation for the driver and front passenger, 14-inch multimedia touchscreen with a 12-speaker JBL® audio system and wireless Apple CarPlay® and wired Android Auto™ compatibility, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control, and trailer brake controller.
The new premium grade is distinguished on the outside by its unique grille, black painted alloy wheels, black-accented tailgate, a panoramic moonroof and other cosmetic changes.
Inside, it takes the luxury to a new level with standard equipment including leather-accented seats that offer a massage function for the front and heating and ventilation for the rear outboard positions, power adjustable steering column and heated steering wheel, and 10.9-inch head up display.
Customers that are currently participating in the Tundra Insider Program will continue to drive and provide feedback on their vehicles through to the end of their 12-month program.
