Toyota has revealed its all-new 2022 Tundra pickup, redesigned from the ground up, including a new twin-turbo V-6 engine made exclusively at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama.
Jason Puckett, president of Toyota Alabama, credited the Toyota Alabama team for the plant’s ability to produce the new V-6 engine. “This is a momentous occasion for Toyota Alabama and shows Toyota’s confidence in Toyota Alabama to be the sole North American producer of the twin-turbo V-6 engine. Our team is revved up and ready to begin production.”
The new twin-turbo V-6 engine line represents a $288 million investment in the Alabama plant and adds about 450 jobs, bringing the plant’s total employment to 1,800.
The 2022 Tundra will come with two powerplant configurations — a highly efficient twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 engine or a hybrid twin-turbo V-6 engine.
The V-6 engine is made up of an aluminum block that features a displacement of 3,445cc via an 85.5mm bore and 100mm stroke. The 24-valve dual overhead cam V-6 is chain-driven and features dual VVTi systems. Keeping the temperature down is a water-cooled intercooler that improves the output. The V-6 engine produces up to 389 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque by itself. When paired with the bell-housing motor system, called the iFORCE MAX, the result is an output of 437 horsepower and 583 lb.-ft. torque.
Production of the V-6 engine will start next month and hiring for the positions has already begun.
The all-new 2022 Tundra is assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas, like previous Tundra models, and was designed, by Calty Design Research in California and in Michigan, to be rugged, reliable and comfortable to drive.
“Because recreation and an outdoor lifestyle are at the core of Toyota truck identity, we set out to create a muscular, chiseled and athletic design that also looks like it could handle the toughest towing demands,” said Kevin Hunter, president of Calty Design Research.
The Toyota Alabama plant also produces 4-cylinder, V-6 and V-8 engines. It has produced V-8 engines for the Tundra in the past. The V-8 is also used in the Sequoia. V-6 engines are used in the Highlander, Tacoma and the Lexus RX 350. The 4-cylinder engines the plant produces are used in the Camry, Highlander and RAV4.
