Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., today unveiled long bed versions of the all-new 2007 Tundra full-size pickup truck at a press conference at the NTEA's Truck Product Conference in Dearborn, Michigan.
"The NTEA Product Conference is an ideal forum to debut the long bed Tundra work truck," said Brian Smith, Toyota corporate manager for truck operations. "Toyota recognizes the importance of commercial business customers to Tundra's long-term success. Working with NTEA will allow their members time to develop a wide variety of Tundra-compatible work equipment and have those products to market by the time the new Tundra launches in February."
For the first time ever, aftermarket equipment manufacturers will have the opportunity to obtain technical data and examine the Tundra Long Bed work truck in detail five months prior to the vehicle's launch.
In private sessions closed to the public, and closed to other truck manufacturers, NTEA members were afforded an early first-look at new, yet- to-be-launched pickup trucks.
The new Tundra Long Bed will be available in Regular and Double Cab versions. With a 165-inch wheelbase, the Tundra Double Cab Long Bed will be the longest pickup in the Toyota truck lineup. It will be suitable for carrying a crew of six plus maximum cargo. The Tundra Regular Cab Long Bed will provide extra storage capacity behind the driver's seat and the largest interior volume in its class.
Both long bed configurations will come with a choice of three engines, including a 5.7-liter V8 that offers maximum towing of well over 10,000 pounds and a payload capacity to compete with the best in the half-ton class.
With an eight-foot one-inch bed and a substantial bed depth, the Tundra Long Bed will have the deepest box in its class below the rails. To maximize flexibility, the bed will be equipped with the expected six standard size stake pockets, four corner tie-down hooks, as well as an optional deck rail system.
Even the tailgate has commercial customers in mind, because it's both lockable and easily removable in the event that a utility cap is installed by a tradesperson. Tundra's extensive color palette will include three popular non-metallic work truck colors: white, red and black.
All Tundras will be equipped with oversized door handles and controls, designed so that work crews can jump in and out of the truck to move around a job site without taking off their work gloves. The cab is designed to function as a mobile office with a center console capable of holding a laptop or hanging file folders. On bench seat models the center seat section folds down to create a flat surface for use as a mobile desk. The glove box is big enough to hold a standard Thermos, and to aid safe hands-free communication, Bluetooth capability is available.
The SR5 grade Tundra Long Beds will be a popular configuration for foremen, supervisors or owner-operator tradespeople. The SR5 will offer a wide variety of functional options, appearance accessories, and upgraded fabrics and trim.
Regular Cab models will also feature a standard grade featuring heavy-duty vinyl flooring and basic equipment targeted specifically for work applications and commercial use.
The all-new Tundra will be manufactured at two U.S.-based full-size truck production facilities: Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana in Princeton, Ind., and the new Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, located in San Antonio.