Toyota Isn't Ruling Out the Idea of a Hybrid Pickup Truck
The Toyota Tacoma could get a hybrid variant.
While Ford, Chevrolet, and Ram were busy showing off special edition models at this year’s State Fair of Texas, Toyota was noticeably missing from this year’s event. But that doesn’t mean the Japanese automaker isn’t working on making its trucks even better. Although it has nothing new to show off at the State Fair of Texas, Toyota still knows how important the market is considering the state is the country’s number-one truck market.
Automotive News had the opportunity to speak to Ed Laukes, group vice president of marketing for Toyota, at the automaker’s exhibit at the State Fair of Texas to get some insight on what Toyota is working on.
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The most important takeaway from the interview is that Toyota is focusing on keeping the Tacoma at the top of the class, and powertrains are an important priority as the company works on CAFE standards. Automotive News asked specifically if there was any reason why Toyota couldn’t have a hybrid truck, which Laukes responded, “There’s absolutely no reason we shouldn’t have a hybrid truck. All these options, we’re exploring.”
It suggests that Toyota is working on a hybrid version of the Tacoma, or at the very least, it’s not ruling out the idea of a Tacoma Hybrid variant. Laukes went on to say now that the Tacoma has been completely redone, Toyota is working on a new generation of 4Runner, Sequoia, and Tundra models. Don’t be surprised if any of those offer a hybrid version too in the future.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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If anything, what they need is a Prius van the size of a Transit Connect or NV200