Toyota Promotes Baja Race Trucks, Directly Challenges Raptor?

Toyota seems to be finally getting pretty serious about promoting their off-road legacy, Ivan Stewart and the TRD Pro. With a Baja race team established and a large booth at the upcoming 2014 SEMA show, Toyota is directly challenging the Ford Raptor’s dominance in the segment. It is about time.

Recently, Toyota held a special reveal in Los Angeles to showcase some of their 15-vehicle SEMA booth. Pickuptrucks.com was on-hand to snap some photos.

Toyota says the large display is really about celebrating TRD’s 35th Anniversary of racing.

Toyota Baja Race Trucks

Officially, the booth will have a 2015 Tundra TRD Pro Desert Race Truck as well as three bona-fide chase trucks equipped with TRD Pro upgrades — a 4Runner, Tacoma and Tundra. These trucks will be on display prior to heading to the 47th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. This is one of the most grueling and notorious off-road races in the world.

“With over 1,000 miles of harsh terrain, the Baja 1000 is the ultimate proving grounds for research and development; it helps us to continuously improve our trucks,” said Mike Sweers, chief engineer of Toyota Pickup Trucks. “This race will not only test the race truck, but the three chase trucks as well. All of the trucks have to be up to the task in order to finish this tough race.”

Swears will be a part of the race team.

Renowned off-road fabricator N-Fab helped Toyota modify the three chase trucks to carry extra gear and radio communication.

“It’s a big deal for N-Fab and a big deal for TRD,” said N-Fab CEO Thomas Fichter. “We’re excited to go out there and prove that Toyota and the TRD Pro line of components are worthy for the off-road market.”

Also on display will be the multi-championship-winning Toyota Tundra Trophy Truck, once piloted by the legendary Ivan “Ironman” Stewart. Stewart will lead the team as a coach and a mentor.

Toyota proclaimed their dominace of the format in a press release with these impressive stats: 303 off-road wins, 27 manufacturer’s championships and 28 off-road driver’s championships.

Toyota Takes Aim At Ford

All of this sounds great, but what is really going on? A direct shot to the Ford Raptor and the new Ford F-150.

Remember Ford famously drove a new F-150 in the Baja race with its aluminum body. Also, the Ford Raptor was built for this type of racing. While Ram and GM have largely ignored Baja race vehicles, Toyota has developed the new TRD Pro.

While the PR reps will say all the correct things to not spur on a public debate with Ford, we have been to enough of these events to read the “tea leafs.”

TRD Chase Trucks Specs

2015 TRD 4Runner

• Small cooler w/holder
• Rigid E-series light bars: 40” (roof), 30” (bumper), 10” amber (rear-facing), 10” clear (rear-facing)
• Lowrance 5” GPS
• RCI chase radio w/antenna
• Smittybilt 27046b Beaver step
• Smittybilt 97495 XRC 9.5k winch, Gen 2
• Smittybilt 40504 Defender rack
• Smittybilt 2784 Overlander tint
• N-Fab T104RKR4 rockrail with detachable FJ step
• N-Fab rear tailgate set
• Headrest TRD logo
• Superior Dash carbon-fiber interior kit
• Powder coating (charcoal grey)
• ARB shade tent

2015 TRD Tacoma

• Coleman large metal cooler
• Rigid E-series 40” light bar mounted with N-Fab mount
• Rigid E-series 30” (bumper)
• Lowrance 7” GPS
• Radio chase RCI radios w/antenna
• Smittybilt 2747 power air tank
• Jegs Pro alum. jack, 2.0 ton w/skid
• Smittybilt 97495 XRC 9.5k winch, Gen 2
• Smittybilt 2809 aluminum fairlead with misc. 8g/10g connectors
• Atlas sling
• N-Fab T054BR custom bed bar
• N-Fab T0530LD light bar w/hoop
• N-Fab T054RKRCC rockrail w/FJ detachable step
• N-Fab T0540LR roof mount
• Full leather two tone interior w/TRD logo in headrest
• Superior Dash carbon-fiber interior kit
• Powder coating (dark charcoal grey)

2015 TRD Tundra

• Coleman large metal cooler
• Rigid E-series light bars: 40” (roof), 30” (bumper), 10” amber (rear-facing), 10” clear (rear-facing)
• Lowrance 7” GPS
• RCI chase radio w/antenna
• Toff spray-on liner
• Smittybilt 2747 power air tank
• Smittybilt 27046b Beaver step
• Hunsaker 11 gallon fuel jug
• Jegs Pro alum. jack, 2.0 ton w/skid
• Smittybilt 9797412 XRC 12k winch, Gen 2
• Smittybilt 2761 security storage
• Atlas sling custom tie-downs and straps
• Smittybilt 40504 Defender rack, cut and reconfigured
• N-Fab custom bed cage w/tire carriers
• N-Fab T0730LD front light bar w/hoop
• N-Fab T074RKRQC rock rail w/FJ detachable step
• Headrest TRD logo
• Superior Dash carbon-fiber interior kit
• Powder coating (dark charcoal grey)

The 2014 SEMA show runs Nov. 4-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Tundraheadquarters.com’s Tim Esterdahl will be on hand.

Learn more about the 2015 Toyota Tundra Desert Pro with this article.