Toyota chooses Australia for RHD Tundra development program
Toyota Tundra conversion program gives us another reason to buy a bigger boatToyota has announced it will use Australia as the proving ground for its right-hand-drive development program for its all-new Toyota Tundra pick-up light truck.
Under the framework of the development program, Walkinshaw Automotive Group – the specialist engineering company that for the last five years has converted RAM 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado pick-up trucks to right-hand drive – up to 300 evaluation vehicles will have new right-hook parts fitted.
Hitting the roads late next year, that first batch of at-least-6.0-metre-long Tundras to hit Australian roads won’t be sold to the public – that will potentially come later once the four-year-long development project is completed.
If the Toyota Tundra does go on sale here, it means that Australian boat owners will have yet another choice for towing up to – and possibly beyond – 4500kg of boat, trailer, fuel, fishing gear, ice and bait down to the local ramp alongside RAM, Chevrolet, and the upcoming Ford F150 that’s due on sale here next year.
“Toyota's focus on ensuring delivery of its hallmark quality, durability and reliability attributes is expected to result in one of the most thorough development projects undertaken for a vehicle program of this type in Australia,” Toyota said in a statement outlining its plans.
“After significant development in-house, prototype testing on public roads will begin in September 2022,” it said.
Starting from quarter four next year, Toyota will deploy approximately 300 of its cars all around Australia, as part of the final stage of the RHD re-engineering program.
These vehicles will not be for sale but will involve monitoring under real-world usage conditions in Australia.”
To make the project work, Walkinshaw will tap into Toyota’s parts bin, adapting the right-hand-drive components made for the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series so they work with the Tundra.
According to Toyota, the converted vehicles will be equipped with a new in-line hybrid system featuring a twin-turbo 3.5-litre petrol V6, which it says will be the most advanced and fuel-efficient powertrain available for the Tundra.
No other details about the development program, or the vehicles, were revealed.
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