The Toyota Tacoma Is Getting a New Diesel Engine
Fans of the Toyota Tacoma don’t want to be tricked again. Rumors of a truck with a diesel engine coming to America have been floating around for years. However, the diesel Toyota Tacoma could actually be happening in the United States this time.
The Toyota Tacoma Turbodiesel is coming
According to The Drive, Toyota filed a United States patent that describes a high-compression engine that may run on diesel fuel. It could be for the Tundra or the Tacoma, or perhaps both. Then both of these trucks would benefit from an improved fuel economy and more torque.
The patent includes a few of the potential benefits of high-compression tech, including the suppression of smoke and ignitability improvement. As smoke can be an issue for traditional diesel engines, this makes sense.
Smoke and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are fought off by modern diesel trucks with diesel particulate filters (DPF) and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). An engine that can reduce smoke without needing DEF would change the game.
Tacoma diesel engine power
Speculation from Pickup Trucks suggests that the diesel Taco will be similar to its international cousin, the Toyota Hilux. If this information is correct, the diesel Tacoma might be available with a 2.8-liter turbo option that pumps out 177 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque.
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Plus, to make things more exciting for off-roaders, the Toyota Tacoma turbodiesel is expected to be offered with a standard six-speed automatic gearbox or six-speed manual transmission. This would change the game even more by providing drivers with more options.
With the new diesel engine, the 2022 Toyota Tacoma is expected to have more muscle. Its towing capacity could be increased to almost 8,000 lb, helping it become more competitive. For example, the 2021 Tacoma can tow up to 6,800 lb, but the Chevy Colorado can tow up to 7,700 lb. So the aging Tacoma has needed some updates for a while.
What about the Toyota Tacoma Hybrid?
Oh yeah, rumors about the new Toyota Tacoma hybrid truck have been floating around too. A diesel engine seems like it’s going in the opposite direction of a hybrid engine. But both options should help reduce our carbon footprint.
For example, the Toyota Hilux was discontinued in the United States due to the failure to meet rising emission standards. Now with modern updates, perhaps Toyota sees the value of making these new engine options available.
If we switch gears and visit Tacoma World, we can find more speculation. According to the comments, Toyota is crafting a new single platform for the Tacoma and Tundra to ride on. Hybrid powertrains could be a part of this plan.
The Fast Lane Car also shared that the Tacoma hybrid could be paired with the Lexus 3.5-liter V6 hybrid powertrain that pumps out 354 hp. The turbo four-cylinder engine with 241 hp could also work well with a rear-drive setup.
Both the diesel and hybrid options would need enough muscle to compete against the Jeep Gladiator. The Gladiator EcoDiesel engine provides 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. Also, the Jeep Gladiator 4xe is on the way.
