Turbo-Diesel Preview for Toyota Tundra?
Tim Esterdahl | Jul 30, 2012 | Comments 12
Toyota will begin shipping a new cab-over-engine Class 5 Hino work truck to select U.S. markets sometime in the third quarter. While that isn’t so exciting, the turbo-diesel electric-hybrid powertrain developed for this truck is creating quite a stir for Toyota Tundra fans. This powertrain could be adapted to be an option for future Tundras.
Speculation is growing that a new turbo-diesel engine powering the Hino could be adapted for a Toyota Tundra.
According to a PickupTrucks.com story, the “Hino 195h uses a 5.0-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel (and intercooled) engine, electric motor/generator, a six-speed Aisin transmission, a massive nickel-metal hydride battery and a selective catalytic reduction system with a 4.7-gallon diesel exhaust fluid tank.”
Not surprisingly us that this adds up to quite a bit of weight, somewhere around 2,000 lbs. This isn’t a big deal for the Hino that already has a gross weight of 19,500 lbs since it only makes small trips.
How the Hino turbo-diesel electric-hybrid engine works.
Yet, many people think this system could work with a Toyota Tundra albeit with a major weight reduction. Besides the weight issue there could be some issues making the system work “with a four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive transfer case, as the driveline is already bulky and heavy. Since the system has a start/stop interface clutch between the engine and motor, adding a transfer case into the driveline could be problematic, not to mention space is tight to get a prop shaft to send power to the front axle, ” according to PickupTrucks.com.
The speculation is also that the modification could go a step further and be adapted for the Toyota Tacoma (although that seems like a long-shot).
With all the talk lately about new diesel engines in compact trucks and the “diesel gap” in Toyota’s lineup, it wouldn’t seem to unlikely that Toyota is at least considering the option.
One other item to consider is that Toyota has recently announced that their R and D center in Michigan will be in charge of all North American only products like the Toyota Tundra. These means that Toyota City will have little impact on future Toyota Tundra designs rather American designers will have more say in the next-generation trucks.
One has to wonder then, what having American R and D engineers and a turbo-diesel engine already in product could mean for diesel engine development. Will the American engineers finally get a diesel engine in a Tundra?
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Filed Under: Auto News
The 1/2 ton market has been crying for a 1/2 ton diesel for years. If Toyota is this close to one, they should release it as soon as possible; add the hybrid stuff later; don’t delay a diesel for it. This would really show truck consumers that Toyota is a long haul player in the truck market. I considered a Titan but decided against it because I got the feeling that Nissan was not committed to the pickup truck market.
Ford will not release a diesel soon because they have the ecoBoost–some are still skeptical of this engine, including myself.
RAM: Hmmm, don’t know but they’ve been releasing some new stuff quickly and I wouldn’t be surprised is something is in the works. Watch out for these guys.
GM: Same old GM. Heck, they’re finally getting around to adding a 6 1/2 ft for their 1/2 ton crew cabs. They’ve got a lot of catching up to do, let’s leave it at that.
Oh yeah, none of the domestic 3 are J2807 compliant.
I concur with you. Any diesel released has to be powerful, economical, and inexpensive to purchase, by comparison. Stock, my Tundra gets the same mileage as a Ford Powerstroke with cheaper fuel. Until the diesels of today get less expensive, I don’t know if there is much of a market. I’m curious to see what Ram does with their Italian diesel, though.
GM already did a 1/2ton diesel.
Dodge was thinking if a mini cunnings.
GM was going to put a 4.5L in a Tahoe or a 1/2 ton.
When did GM make a 1/2 ton diesel? Never heard of that.
When did GM make a 1/2 ton crew cab truck with 6 1/2′ bed? Never seen that either.
Am I missing something?
Toyota needs to build a crewmax with 6 1/2′ bed and I’ll be a happy camper.
Doubt toyota will build a 1/2 ton diesel ever to be honest.
mk – GM made a diesel 350 between 78′ and 85′ … they weren’t very good or very popular. Good trivia question.
Iwould be intrested in the hybrid. Since the wife has a Prius hybrid. Kind of keeping things together.
A hybrid tundra makes no sense at all. GM has a hybrid and all it gains is a few mpg and costs way too much. Not knocking the prius too much, but most of our driving is hwy. and the prius probably gets say 42-45 mpg hwy. and costs around 24K or so vs. a basic corolla LE costs 17K and gets 35 mpg hwy. To gain say 7-8 mpg hwy. at an extra expense of 7 grand to me makes no sense.
mk understand. The wife travels 45 miles one way to work. 18 miles is city and 27 are hwy @55mph or higher. She already proven to me if she does 55mph on the interstate she gets right above 60mpg on her work travels. Just getting into the 50mpg range is worth the amount paid. She gets 46mpg at 70mph. So by going slower it increases on the interstate. Also never had anything to fix besides changing wiper blades and both HID bulbs on the headlights. For her it was increase since she had a 03 Ford Crown Victoria LX Sport that got 18mpg on the hwy. She did lose spcae and ride with that exchange. But she is happy so I don’t mind.
Just read all and wondering if anyone thought of vw tdi??
41mpg before 10,000 miles, 45mpg @14,000 miles
Toyota Rep from Torrance said they were talking to several diesel companies, sounded like Hino was not in the plans.
I used a Toyo 5 Cyl. Diesel in the 4 runner platform in Bosnia back in 2001. We also had the same powerplant in the Toyota Pickups. It hauled, it pushed, it pulled, great on fuel consumpton, and most issues with the vehicle were never the drive train mostly electrical but even that was rare….If they do use even a reasonable mock up of this power plant; the Tundra will be my new Pick up
I remember when Ford was thinking about putting their 4.5L Powerstroke in an F-150.