Toyota's Plan: All Pick Ups on 1 Platform Tundra, Tacoma 1st to share

[jpd80]

Toyota's plan: All pickups on 1 platform Tundra, Tacoma 1st to share
April 08, 2019 12:00 AM 2 hours ago
Larry P. Vellequette
https://www.autonews.com/sales/toyot...ups-1-platform

SAN ANTONIO — Toyota's next-generation full-size Tundra and midsize Tacoma pickups will share a common platform — internally called F1 — that the Japanese automaker plans to spread to all of its pickups globally, Automotive News has learned.

The strategy closely mimics that used by Toyota in recent years with its unibody Toyota New Global Architecture, which allows it to build a range of models including the Corolla compact sedan, Avalon large car and RAV4 compact crossover using common parts on a single platform for greater efficiency.

Current-generation Tundras and Tacomas are built in sequence on a shared assembly line in south San Antonio, while the Tacoma is also assembled at a pair of plants in Mexico. Although the two pickups share the assembly line at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas, they are built on different platforms, increasing complexity far beyond that of the 37 cab and powertrain variations of the two pickups.

Sources within Toyota say development of the shared-platform pickups is near completion and could be introduced as early as next year for 2021 models. Details of what the shared platform will mean, in terms of design or potential features, remains unknown.

A spokesman for Toyota Motor North America declined to comment on the shared-platform pickup strategy, saying Toyota does not discuss future product.

Sounds like Toyota uses a very liberal definition of platform, more like a common engineering project.

It will be interesting to see how this evolves, my suspicion is that this will
be some contrivance to save the USA Tundra which is really struggling.

[Vesper Martini]

This would be a different platform to the Thai built Hilux wouldn't it?

[chevypower]

I think this is what Nissan did for the first gen Titan, Armada, QX56. They shared platforms with the Frontier/Navara.

[simon varley]

the septics think F150 and Ranger can come off the same platform too....

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Sounds like Toyota uses a very liberal definition of platform, more like a common engineering project.

It will be interesting to see how this evolves, my suspicion is that this will
be some contrivance to save the USA Tundra which is really struggling.

Copying Ford's strategy of putting the Ranger and F series on a shared platform.

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

This would be a different platform to the Thai built Hilux wouldn't it?

I would assume so. The current Hilux is a completely different animal to the Tacoma.

[Vesper Martini]

Perhaps theres something I don't understand about Platforms, but the American Tacoma & F150 are much longer/wider than the Hilux & Ranger respectively.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Perhaps theres something I don't understand about Platforms, but the American Tacoma & F150 are much longer/wider than the Hilux & Ranger respectively.

From my understanding they can be scaled down dimensionally. They won't have a chassis the same length/width.

[ebv8]

i see hilux and all the other thai utes becoming monocoque by 2025
they are bought less and less to tow and for work and are used as family sedans
cabin internal dimensions would be greater, more ride comfort too
ladder frames will stay for the big boys

"my opinion only"

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Copying Ford's strategy of putting the Ranger and F series on a shared platform.

I wonder what Ford's engineers think about that idea.....

Did some pencil-neck suit just wake up and decide,
" Hey, let's make Ranger and F150 on common parts, it's that easy.."
I have a feeling that all the intelligent people in the room went..

I would assume so. The current Hilux is a completely different animal to the Tacoma.

Both of them have long evolutionary paths, strange that after all this time,
Toyota still can't justify a single design covering all global regions.

Originally Posted by ebv8

i see hilux and all the other thai utes becoming monocoque by 2025
they are bought less and less to tow and for work and are used as family sedans
cabin internal dimensions would be greater, more ride comfort too
ladder frames will stay for the big boys

"my opinion only"

Can't speak for the others but,
NG T6 Ranger arrives mid-late 2021 and is expected to run for at least eight to ten years.
Ford also building versions of Ranger and the Transits for VW around the globe.

The latter, Transit has a stamped steel ladder bar chassis, that may be an option
for utes waay off in the future.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by ebv8

i see hilux and all the other thai utes becoming monocoque by 2025
they are bought less and less to tow and for work and are used as family sedans
cabin internal dimensions would be greater, more ride comfort too
ladder frames will stay for the big boys

"my opinion only"

With Fords media release about the Ranger and F series sharing the same platform, they will stay seperate chassis for at least a few more decades.