Author Archive for Tim Esterdahl
Associate Editor Tim Esterdahl is a married father of three who enjoys all things automotive including wrenching on his collection of old pickups. He also plays an absurd amount of golf. Like really absurd.
2016 Lexus RX 350 and 450h First Drive – F-Sport Hybrid Impresses
A few weeks ago, Lexus flew me out to Raleigh, North Carolina to check out the all-new 2016 Lexus RX 350 and 450h SUVs. Avid readers of this site know I am a pretty big fan of the outgoing models and these new ones have big shoes to fill. Can they? I’m a bit mixed.
The RX styling is a big departure from the previous generation.
Toyota Plans Hybrid Pickup, Upset Over Ford Collaboration
Auto shows, like the recent one – the 2015 L.A. show – are great places to look at new products and upgrades to existing ones. They are also great places to pick up gossip between automakers like Toyota being pissed at Ford over a failed hybrid collaboration. Like really pissed.
This logo could be under the hood of a Tundra truck before you know it.
2015 Lexus ES 300h – Defies Hybrid Expectations
For years, hybrids have often gotten a bad rap of being pokey to drive and underpowered (see: Prius). This is quite often true with auto makers sacrificing performance for fuel economy. However, if one automaker has gotten hybrids figured out, it is Toyota and Lexus. This Lexus hybrid quite simply defies expectations.
While great styling is often in the eye of the beholder, it is hard to dismiss the classic luxury styling of the 2015 Lexus ES 300h.
2017 Toyota Tundra – What to Expect
Note to the readers: you are going to see Toyota Tundra Chief Engineer Mike Sweers mentioned quite a bit in this article. Why? He is chief engineer and provides the direction for the truck as well as approves/turns down any ideas his team comes up with. In the past, some readers have said I refer to Sweers too much. Those readers don’t understand how much Sweers controls the direction of the Tundra. In order to understand the future of the Tundra, one must understand how Sweers thinks. I believe, after spending quite a bit of time with him, I have a fairly good idea. Again, a “fairly” good idea.
With the start of auto show “season” kicking off in LA this week, it is a good time to turn our attention to what Toyota has in store. This year, it is highly likely changes to the Toyota Tundra are coming at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show. What could those changes be? Here are my best guesses.
What improvements can you expect in the 2017 Toyota Tundra? Here are my best guesses.
October 2015 Sales Results – Tacoma Up, Tundra Flat
Another month is in the books for 2015 and the new Tacoma is starting off hot while the Tundra is flat. Production is likely still being skewed toward the Tacoma, yet the consistent lack of growth for Tundra is starting to become glaring.
