Fans of the Toyota Tacoma — as well as competing automakers — won’t have to wait until May 19 to get a first look at the fourth-generation pickup. Some enthusiasts, it seems, found a back way into the Japanese automaker’s website and posted an image of the 2024 Tacoma on fan site tacoma4g.com
For its part, Toyota is standing by its original plans to stage a global reveal in less than two weeks time, sending out a statement that said, “we are excited to see the enthusiasm around the new Tacoma and we are looking forward to the official reveal on May 19th.”
The leaked pic shows a markedly updated version of the midsize mainstay, industry data showing that the third-generation Tacoma last year outsold the next three models on the sales charts — combined. But the question is whether Toyota can maintain its decadeslong lead considering Tacoma will face a wave of new competitors this year.
Influenced by the bigger Tundra
General Motors has already begun rolling out new versions of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Sierra. And Ford this week plans to unveil its next-generation Ranger, including a first-ever performance package, the Ranger Raptor.
Based on what has leaked out, its apparent that the 2024 Toyota Tacoma bears the strong influence of the bigger Tundra pickup, with a more rugged and chiseled face, and a more aggressive and muscular hood. Patent renderings from Brazil already indicated that the new midsize truck till get new vertical LED taillights and a new spoiler atop the tailgate.
Chunky tires, fender flares, a light bar under the front “Toyota” badge and a big air scoop on the hood suggests it could be the new, off-road-oriented TRD Pro model.
Plenty of changes in store
Toyota has been teasing the launch of a new Tacoma for some time and, along with the more Tundra-like styling, observers have noticed changes that signal a number of significant changes. That includes a move away from rear leaf springs. Some, and possibly all, versions of the 2024 Tacoma are expected to move to rear disc, rather than dated drum brakes. That will make it possible to integrate a number of new digitally based features to improve on and off-road traction, handling and safety.
One of the most significant updates, however, will be the availability of a first-ever hybrid powertrain option for Tacoma. Toyota last month confirmed, “The best-selling midsize pick-up in America is all-new for 2024 with electrifying i-Force Max performance.”
The Tundra launched an i-Force Max package in 2022, but Tacoma is expected to offer a downsized version of the hybrid, TheDetroitBureau.com reported last month. The full-size pickup uses a hybridized twin-turbo V-6. Options for Tacoma appear to include a gas-electric take on one of Toyota’s other 6-cylinder engines, or even a 4-cylinder alternative.
Significantly, Toyota has confirmed that it will retain a manual transmission for the 2024 Tacoma.
New Trailhunter edition in the works
Among other changes reportedly in the works, Toyota may be readying an even more robust off-roader called the Trailhunter edition. It will be targeted against some of the growing competition Tacoma now faces, such as the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2.
But Chevy is determined to fight back. “This truck has been designed to go head-to-head” with Tacoma, said Mike Macphee, the Chevy marketing and advertising manager overseeing the launch of the new Colorado.
Ford, meanwhile, is betting it can gain ground with a completely made-over Ranger. It will try to go head-to-head with the Tacoma TRD by offering its first-ever Ranger Raptor, that being the designation for the most robust versions of the full-size F-150 pickup, as well as the Bronco SUV.
It took some “sleuthing”
The leaked image of the new Tacoma was obtained “by sleuthing on the Toyota website and matching up the hosting domain,” Doug Liu, a co-owner of tacoma4g.com, told Automotive News. One of the site’s users played a few games with the URLs used for older Tacomas and landed “on this image of the next-gen Taco in all its glory,” Liu said.
We’ll have more on the 2024 Toyota Tacoma on May 19 — unless we track down more leaks before then.