Toyota Australia Begins Deliveries of Tundra Evaluation Vehicles

Are you ready to unleash the beast?

Toyota Australia has started delivering its Tundra evaluation vehicles as part of a program to assess the potential for importing and converting the full-size pickup for the Australian market.

Toyota Australia is making moves to bring the Tundra full-size pickup to the Land Down Under. Deliveries of 300 Tundra evaluation vehicles have now begun, with all of them expected to be in the hands of eager customers by April 2024. It’s all part of Toyota’s real-world evaluation and validation program, which aims to determine whether it’s worth importing and converting the Tundra for right-hand drive in Australia. This program is like putting the Tundra through a rigorous test drive to see if it passes muster.

Now, you might be wondering why Toyota Australia would suddenly be interested in the Tundra after initially saying they had no plans to introduce it locally. Well, competition in the segment has been growing, and Toyota doesn’t want to be left in the dust. So, they decided to give the Tundra a chance and see if it can win over Aussie customers.

The journey to this point hasn’t been a short one. Back in August 2022, GoAuto discovered government approval documents that hinted at Toyota Australia importing hybrid versions of the Tundra for local evaluation. And now, here we are, with the first batch of 300 Tundra examples ready to hit the road and be put to the test by selected customers.

These lucky customers will have the opportunity to provide valuable feedback to Toyota Australia about their experience with the Tundra. They’ll be driving the vehicles on a full-service lease, which means Toyota Finance Australia administers the lease and takes care of all the servicing and maintenance, mechanical repairs, replacement tires, and even roadside assistance. They say good things come to those who lease!

But what about insurance and registration, you ask? Don’t worry, those are covered too. It’s like getting a complete package deal with the Tundra. Toyota Australia wants to make sure they’re covering all the bases and delivering a top-notch product to their customers.

Sean Hanley, the VP of sales, marketing, and franchise operations at Toyota Australia, explained, “We know there is a demand for full-size pickups like the Tundra, but we wanted to ensure that the local right-hand drive conversion and the vehicle as a whole met Toyota’s exacting standards for quality and the needs of our customers. That’s why we are putting this vehicle through such a rigorous and demanding evaluation program. Our engineers have been working on this project since 2019, and now, together with our partners at Walkinshaw Automotive Group, it’s great to see vehicles being delivered to our customers.”

Speaking of Walkinshaw Automotive Group, they have been tasked with converting the 300 US-built Tundra vehicles for the Australian market. This conversion involves making several new or modified components, including the steering rack, instrument panel, firewall, headlights, wiring harnesses, front seats, carpet, and trim. Many of these components are sourced from the LandCruiser 300 Series.

Now, let’s talk about the heart of the Tundra. Under the hood, it’s powered by a hybridized version of Toyota’s VA-series 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo petrol engine. This bad boy packs a punch, delivering 290kW of power at 5200rpm and a peak torque of 650Nm from 2400-3600rpm. But that’s not all. There’s also electric assistance in the form of a transmission-mounted motor/generator and a 6.5Ah nickel metal hydride battery. This gives the Tundra an overall output of 326kW and a whopping 790Nm. Talk about power at your fingertips!

The Tundra doesn’t skimp on performance either. It comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission, part-time all-wheel drive, a two-speed transfer case, and an automatic limited-slip differential. This bad boy can handle any terrain you throw at it.

When it comes to towing, the Tundra doesn’t disappoint. It has a maximum braked towing capacity of 4,500kg. Need to haul some heavy loads? The Tundra has you covered. Its payload capacity is rated at 758kg. Just remember not to overload it, or else you might be in for a bumpy ride.

Now, let’s take a peek inside the Tundra. The Limited grade Tundra, currently the only grade available in Australia, offers seating for five. The front seats are equipped with heating, ventilation, and eight-way power adjustment. Who doesn’t love a comfortable ride? The rear bench has a 60:40 split-fold design, giving you flexibility when you need to transport both passengers and cargo.

And let’s not forget about the tech goodies. The Tundra comes with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, complete with a central speedometer and an analogue-style tachometer. It’s like having your own personal cockpit. Other convenient features include dual-zone climate control, power windows, a wireless device charging pad, five USB ports for all your gadgets, and adaptive cruise control to take the stress out of long drives.

When it comes to safety, Toyota doesn’t skimp on that either. The Tundra is loaded with driver assistance and safety technologies from the Toyota Safety Sense range. You’ve got autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure alert, lane trace assist, emergency steering assist, and auto high beam. They’ve got your back, so you can focus on enjoying the ride.

So, there you have it. Toyota Australia is going all out to bring the Tundra to the Land Down Under. They’re putting it through its paces with a real-world evaluation and validation program, and selected customers will provide valuable feedback. Walkinshaw Automotive Group is handling the conversion process, and the Tundra is powered by a hybridized V6 twin-turbo petrol engine that delivers impressive power and performance. Whether you need to tow heavy loads or want a comfortable and tech-filled ride, the Tundra has got you covered. So, are you ready to unleash the beast?

• Toyota Australia is delivering 300 Tundra evaluation vehicles to customers by April 2024.
• The company aims to determine the feasibility of importing and converting the Tundra for right-hand drive.
• Selected customers will provide feedback on their experience with the vehicle.
• Walkinshaw Automotive Group is responsible for converting the US-built Tundra models.
• The Tundra features a hybridized 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo engine with a total output of 326kW and 790Nm.
• The Tundra offers a maximum towing capacity of 4,500kg and a payload capacity of 758kg.

Toyota Australia is making big strides with its Tundra evaluation program, delivering 300 vehicles to customers by April 2024. The company aims to determine if importing and converting the Tundra for right-hand drive is feasible. With the help of selected customers and Walkinshaw Automotive Group, Toyota is putting the Tundra to the test to ensure it meets their quality standards and customer needs. The Tundra’s hybridized V6 twin-turbo engine delivers impressive power and performance, making it a capable pickup for towing and everyday driving. With its comfortable interior, advanced tech features, and robust safety technologies, the Tundra is ready to conquer the Australian market. So, get ready to hit the road and unleash the beast!