A new generation of Toyota Tacoma is on its way, and a design patent registration from Brazil gives us an undisguised look at the new truck. While we can’t know for sure if this is the style for the version coming to the United States, the images do give us a general idea of what to expect.
Up front, the Tacoma bears some resemblance to the new Tundra. For example, there is a small bar under each headlight. Both trucks also have rectangular fog lamps integrated into the underside of the bumpers. They share a strongly creased hood. The Tacoma gets additional inlets on the fender flares.
9 Photo
In profile, the truck has box-shaped fender flares. The creased section runs along the bottom of the door and dips diagonally down the front.
The rear features bracket-shaped taillights in a similar design to the Tundra. There is a small window to open on the rear glass.
The included image only lets us see the outside of the truck. The interior is still a mystery. Given the similarities on the outside, it’s possible that the cabin is similar to the Tundra.
The new Tacoma will reportedly be available with two engine options. The turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine will come from the current Highlander where the powerplant produces 265 horsepower (198 kilowatts) and 309 pound-feet (419 Newton-meters).
Another option is a hybrid-assisted turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder. This powerplant is currently available in the Lexus RX 500h where the setup produces 366 hp (272 kW) and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque. Alternatively, it has 340 hp (253 kW) and 400 lb-ft (542 Nm) in the Toyota Crown.
The new Tacoma is reportedly using the TNGA-F platform. These foundations also fall under the Tundra.
Documents for filing this design provide little information. Brazil’s Ministério do Desenvolvimento, Indústria, Comércio e Serviços Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial published this on January 24, 2023. It lists the design authors as Matthew Niven Sperling, Scott Matthew Roller; Kengo Iwanaga, and Yeongmin Kong.
According to LinkedIn, Iwanaga has been the senior lead designer at Calty Design Research Toyota since November 2009. Kong has been the senior lead designer in Calty since June 2018. Sperling has involved with several patents for automakers.
