2012 Tacoma – No Major Changes
At this week’s Toyota dealer meeting, dealers and regional Toyota sales executives were shown the 2012 Tacoma. According to multiple sources that attended the events, the 2012 Tacoma has little or nothing in the way of new features. However, there will be a new grille, new bumper, and slightly different hood.
UPDATE: PickupTrucks.com has found leaked images of the new 2012 Tacoma – according to dealers who’ve seen the truck, this is the official front end:
Leaked image of 2012 Tacoma with new front end from PickupTrucks.com
No picture taking was allowed, and none of our sources could manage to snag one secretly via cell phone camera. Here’s a summary of the information we have:
Upgraded V6? According to our sources, Toyota will not be introducing the more powerful 270hp 4.0L V6 into the Tacoma this year. If this is true (this is confirmed) – This is a major disappointment. Toyota is offering a 270hp variant of the 4.0L V6 in the Tundra and 4Runner – it would only make sense to offer it in the 2012 Tacoma as well.
New transmission, chassis,etc.? NO – identical to 2011.
New packages? None mentioned. We may see a slightly new variation of the T|X packages and/or a special edition off-road package.
Interior changes? None. This 2012 Tacoma is the same as the 2011 from the windshield back. TacomaWorld.com member TacomaJamie has shared that the 2012 Tacoma will have a new dash.
We will update this article as more information becomes available.
When will the 2012 Tacoma be available?
Taco Guy – September/October, pending parts availability. Won’t be too long before we see official press photos of the new truck either.
The dual VVT-i 4.0L V6 is available in the 4Runner and FJ Cruiser since model year 2010 and the Tundra starting at model year 2011.
It’s completely ridiculous that Toyota wouldn’t offer this updated engine for the 2012 model especially if they are making some cosmetic changes.
Improve MPG and performance…what is wrong with Toyota???
Toyota Fan – I hear that there will be a new V6 in 2013…but who knows.
I was told we will not see the new engine in Tacoma’s until they get a ground up redesign because the location of the oil filter on the new Engine conflicts with a portion of the frame on the current Tacoma. I am not holding my breath for a diesel or the 4.6 V8 (lighter than current 4.0 V6) to become options either.
Bassy – What you say about the oil filter is interesting, but I’ve been assured that we’ll see a new engine in the Tacoma very, very soon. Toyota can’t wait until the next Tacoma redesign (?2016-2018) to upgrade the powertrain in these trucks, as that will trigger federal fuel economy regulation penalties.
Ofcourse because Toyota’s junk trucks stink just as well as their company. Sorry it’s sad but true.
2012 Tacoma info:
http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/07/28/toyota-tacoma-to-get-new-look-and-interior-in-october/?mod=google_news_blog
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/07/report-refreshed-toyota-tacoma-coming-in-october.html
More confirmation regarding the changes to the 2012 Tacoma:
http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/07/28/toyota-tacoma-to-get-new-look-and-interior-in-october/?KEYWORDS=Tacoma
Taco Guy – Thanks a lot for posting those links – both good stories. PickupTrucks.com is expecting a new engine…I’ve heard this too. 2013 model year should see a new/updated V6.
I can’t believe Toyota. I was going to buy a 2012 Tacoma but not now the mileage is a big problem full size trucks get better! They need six speed tranny and other improvements, my 2002 Tacoma was a rust bucket!
Randy – I wholeheartedly agree that Toyota needs to do something to differentiate the Tacoma from full-size trucks…if they don’t figure out a way to either reduce costs or improve fuel economy, they’re going to struggle to sell these trucks against F150s and an updated Tundra.
Randy – I wholeheartedly agree that Toyota needs to do something to differentiate the Tacoma from full-size trucks…if they don’t figure out a way to either reduce costs or improve fuel economy, they’re going to struggle to sell these trucks against F150s and an updated Tundra.
No new transmission…..lovely
Thanks for the crappy less efficient 6 speed manual Toyota, I might buy a new one if I could replace the new manual with the one out of my 2000 that has a sensible gear ratio.
Hi Bob, what’s the problem with the 6 speed tranny? I’ve been thinking about buying a 2012, 4-door, 4×4, manual. But I’m a bit concerned about the tranny and engine comments.
At the same time, I’m worried that they will add the better engine and tranny into a newer, fully redesigned 2014 model. and… I don’t want a redesigned model. I like how the truck looks now.
Bob – No chance of a 6speed automatic in 2012. 2013? Maybe…hearing that powertrain changes are coming.
I don’t like the painted cheap looking painted fau bumpers.They look really bad after a few years of use.Get back to a real truck look and give us good ol’ fashioned CHROME BUMPERS ( STEEL THAT IS )Toyotra charges enough for their trucks.
Terry – I’m a chrome fan too. I’m not sure if the truck in the image is just a special package or what…we’ll know more soon.
I have to say, I really hate the 6 speed manual, especially when driving around town. I want the 5 speed manual back and improved fuel efficiency. At least 25 mpg’s, is that really too hard to accomplish? i also do not like the way the truck looks in the picture. Super bummed as I was saving up to buy a 2012…now I have to wait until 2013. This is very reminiscent of Window and the Vista OS botch 🙁
I have owned 5 Toyota pick up trucks and they are high quality, long life vehicles. I’ve taken a lot of verbal abuse from ‘ass holes’ in Michigan who daily, take $50 to punch the time cards in and out of thieves who don’t even show up at the planr. There’s no way in hell, that I’ll ever buy another GM, Ford or Chrysler product because the people who put them together are nothing but scum-bags who sleep, drink booze, do drugs, masturbate and other outrageous, immoral and illegal activities in American and Canadian factories without any fear of being arrested or even losing their jobs. All thanks to corrupt labor unions.
A high percentage of these lazy, unethical, selfish, low-life assembly line workers have a chest at home in the garage filled with tools stolen from their employer and new parts are going out the back door of virtually every plant, every day to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. Who pays for the ‘sabotage’ that workers do to new vehicles as they roll down the assembly line because they have a beef with management or a line supervisor or are being worked “too Hard” when they are drunk or high on crack ? You and you and you…. that’s who. These guys are the ones who are screwing the system and nearly put their employers out od=f business in 2009. The government bailed them out with WHOSE money? Yours, if you buy American. Everyone who berates the imports does so because they don’t want their personal gravy train to stop. Toyota, Honda and now, even Hyundai and Kia are superior to GM, Ford and Chrysler and there are reasons why. Throw your money away if you are stupid enough to do so… not me. Toyota and all of the other ‘imports’ produced on American soil contain (by acts of congress) 95 to 98% domestic content…parts made in the U.S., Canada and yes, Mexico. Imports didn’t eliminate jobs… they’ve created them. Only the belly crawling U.S. automakers fear for their jobs because they, themselves, have endangered them. I can’t and won’t spend MY money on products that are inferior by design and lacking in quality… that are assembled and purposely sabotaged by malcontent workers whose criminality and immorality artificially inflate the cost of vehicles.
The front end of the 2012 Tacoma, shown in red, above, looks like a damn Bull dog… specifically, “Butch” the Bull Dog of Warner Brothers and Bugs Bunny cartoon fame.
Who in hell approves the final designs of the vehicles, anyway? People who are tasteless and blind?