A redesigned 2024 Toyota Tacoma bowed earlier this 12 months completely with turbo-4 powertrains, however an idea unveiled at this week’s 2023 SEMA present no less than teases the potential of a twin-turbocharged V-6 making its manner underneath the mid-size truck’s hood.

The Tacoma X-Runner idea is a contemporary tackle the traditional road truck formulation, in that it is lowered, quick, and doubtless subsequent to ineffective when heading off-road due. It additionally options rear-wheel drive.

In keeping with Adam Rabinowitz, the chief designer at Toyota’s Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Calty Design Analysis, one of many causes for creating the idea was to gauge curiosity in a possible manufacturing model. One other was to indicate the pliability of the Tacoma’s TNGA-F body-on-frame platform.

That platform is shared with the Tundra pickup, amongst different autos, and this enabled Toyota engineers to simply set up a few of the full-size truck’s options within the Tacoma X-Runner idea.

Toyota Tacoma X-Runner idea

A key merchandise carried over from the Tundra is a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6. It incorporates a 421-hp score within the Tacoma X-Runner idea, or 32 hp greater than what the engine delivers within the Tundra. That horsepower bump is courtesy of a TRD Efficiency Bundle which was additionally introduced on the SEMA present and set to be made obtainable to Tundra patrons subsequent 12 months.

Additionally borrowed from the Tundra is a stable axle with 4.30:1 ultimate drive and an digital locking differential to separate the drive torque between the rear wheels. The Tundra’s 13.9-inch entrance brake rotors are additionally used on the idea.

For that correct road truck stance, the engineers put in an air suspension system borrowed from the Tundra. This required modifying the Tacoma’s suspension arms to match the Tundra’s suspension geometry. Finishing the chassis are a set of two.5-inch Bilstein aluminum bodied shocks with distant reservoirs at every nook, and 21-inch wheels with 285/45-size Michelin efficiency rubber. The wheels are a hybrid design combining an aluminum hub with carbon-fiber spokes.

Inside, the modifications are restricted to some sporty touches like a 12 o’clock mark on the steering wheel, body-hugging seats, and paddle shifters for the Tacoma’s 8-speed automated.