After a dramatic redesign for the 2014 model year and the addition of “TRD Pro” models for 2015, Toyota’s Tundra half-ton full-size pickup will see another big change: no V6.
With V6 sales said to be less than 2-percent of all the Tundras sold, Toyota will make the 4.6-liter i-Force V8 the new base engine.
The 4.6 liter doles out 310 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 327 foot-pounds of peak torque at 3,400 rpm.
The most popular Tundra engine, still one of the most advanced in the full-size pickup segment, is the 381 horsepower 5.7-liter i-Force V8.
A real workhorse, with 401 foot-pounds of peak torque at 3,600 rpm., the 5.7-liter is offered in both gasoline and Flex Fuel variants.
Both V8s feature an aluminum cylinder block and double overhead-cam heads with four valves per cylinder,
Dual Independent Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), and Acoustic Control Induction System that get credit for a broad torque curve and helping to optimize efficiency.
Both V8s come teamed with with a six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, with 4WD optional.
Editor’s Note: Bruce Smith is a Senior Editor at Randall-Reilly