Toyota Files Trademark Possibly for Next-Gen Tundra

Toyota has reportedly submitted an application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark the term “i-Force Max.”

According to a report published by The Truth About Cars, the trademark application was filed on February 18 for “automobiles and structural parts thereof.”

The moniker is rumored to be for the new engine of the upcoming generation of the Toyota Tundra that is expected to make its debut next year as a 2022 model.

The i-Force name first appeared in the year 2000 when the automaker released the first generation of the Tundra. At the time, the model was powered by a 4.78-liter V8 that produced 245 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque.

When the company overhauled the truck seven years later, the i-Force name was transferred to the new 5.7-liter DOHC V8 that made 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque, which was unprecedented back then. But since 2007, the Tundra did not make any improvements to its engine.

For years, the model has been rumored to get a new and more powerful engine to replace its aging powertrain so it could go head-to-head with other trucks from the Big Three manufacturers.

The Tundra has long been believed to get a third-generation with its range-topping trim rumored to be equipped with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid built from the same motor used in several Lexus models.

The new engine is predicted to produce 450 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, making the moniker i-Force Max highly appropriate.

If the new Tundra ends up getting these high-output engine numbers, this would put Toyota just behind Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that makes 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. But it would also be good to note that Ford is planning to release the 14th generation of its F-150 later this year, which could very well have a more powerful engine.

Until Toyota announces the release of the Tundra and for which product the new trademark application is going to be, nothing’s final still.