With the Toyota Tundra approaching its 13th model year, reports have surfaced that a redesigned version of the well-loved pickup truck will be launched soon.
The full-size truck’s current generation was launched in 2007. And although it has been refreshed in 2014, the basic build and engine of the pickup have not changed in any way.
Recent reports suggest that Toyota will be releasing a redesigned version of the Tundra in 2021. This new version is rumored to have a hybrid powertrain and will run on a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 combined with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack.
While nothing is confirmed about the all-new 2021 Tundra yet, significant changes in its upcoming 2020 version also indicate that the brand is somehow cutting costs on production ahead of the release of a fully redesigned model.
For the 2020 model year, the Tundra’s base 4.6-liter V8 engine and Flex Fuel option will be discontinued, leaving the 5.7-liter V8 as the only engine available.
Toyota refused to comment on the reports, but consumers seem to be embracing the news that the 4.6-liter V8 is getting cut instead of the 5.7-liter.
For a full-size pickup truck, keeping the bigger, more powerful engine that makes 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque is more logical. Additionally, the 5.7-liter comes with a Flex Fuel option that is not available for smaller engines.
But how does this relate to the likelihood of a redesigned Toyota Tundra being released in 2021?
The fact that Toyota is dropping the 4.6-liter V8 and Flex Fuel option could mean that the brand is going for a simplified second-generation Tundra because it’s in its final model year and that a third-gen will be coming soon.
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