The Toyota logo is seen during a briefing on EV (electric vehicle) battery strategies at the company's showroom in Tokyo on December 14, 2021.
(Photo : BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images)
Toyota finally unveiled the second half of its 2022 Tundra full-size pickup trucks, and they sure are a sight to behold. Taking center stage in the launch was the 2022 Toyota Tundra with the new i-Force Max hybrid powertrain.
The 2022 model of the Toyota Tundra features a base 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that can generate up to 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of twist. The Japanese automaker took it up another notch with the hybrid version of that twin-turbo V6, enhancing the engine's output to 437 horsepower and an impressive 583 pound-feet of torque. Both variants are mated with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
To generate more power for the i-Force Max, Toyota bolstered the same twin-turbo V6 platform with a motor-generator. It has a clutch within the bell housing between the engine and the aforementioned 10-speed automatic transmission.
Tundra and Sequoia share similar design and spec
The additional power that the motor-generator produces is transferred via the transmission, while the energy regeneration, EV driving, engine start-up, and electric-assist are done solely via the parallel hybrid components.
Apart from having a much better appearance, the 2022 Tundra offers more features and a vastly improved interior than its predecessor. The all-new Tundra has an aluminum reinforced composite bed, a new high-strength steel box, and a fully redesigned multi-link rear suspension that replaced the previous model's leaf springs.
The platform architecture used for the 2022 Toyota Tundra is the same one the automaker used for the new global Land Cruiser, the Lexus LX, and the Sequoia. It is amazing to see two completely different vehicles being the same thing, but that is the case with the 2022 Tundra and the 2023 Sequoia.
Toyota senior engineering manager in research and development Craig Herring called the development of both vehicles 'brotherly,' with some even calling the half-ton pick-up truck and the full-size SUV as fraternal twins. Herring said that the Tundra and Sequoia shared almost everything, including the same design and spec, which helped tremendously with development efficiency and cost.
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Specs and interior of 2022 Toyota Tundra i-Force Max
Toyota worked on the new i-Force Max hybrid powertrain for Tundra and Sequoia to create a premium towing machine. The improvements are there to see for the Tundra i-Force Max, which now has a towing capacity of 12,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,940 pounds.
The 2022 Tundra's new interior is now more car-like with features such as a panoramic roof, rear sunshade, a heated steering wheel, and heated and cooled front seats. The truck also had off-road enhancements and towing aids.
The 2022 Tundra i-Force Max also has an all-new multimedia system featuring wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and over-the-air updates. Two different four-way layouts are available for the Tundra and three-bed lengths: 5.5 feet, 6.5 feet, and 8.1 feet.
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