The Toyota Tundra is on the cards for an Australian launch, with the next-generation of the American-born jumbo truck being considered for more global markets.
Speaking at the New York Motor Show, Toyota's North American group vice-president and general manager, Jack Hollis, said a new-generation Tundra was about to be revealed - though he wouldn't be drawn on timing - and told CarsGuide he wanted the USA-born pick-up to "go global".
"We’re working on our next-generation Tundra, and I can’t wait to show it to you," he said.
"I would love to see that car go global. We have a great relationship with Australia - the company there does fantastic work.
"As of right now, I’m not aware of any plans. But would I like to see it? Absolutely. Because the more we can share these products with other parts of the globe is a good thing."
It is understood the Tundra full-size pick-up has been studied for our market since 2018. The problem is, the current vehicle was approaching the end of its lifecycle, ruling out the expense of engineering a right-hand-drive version.
With recent reports suggesting a new global truck platform could underpin all of Toyota's pick-up products - including the Tundra, Tacoma and, potentially, the HiLux - a right-hand drive version could appear more likely.
And with a new-generation Tundra around the corner, the pick-up is back in the Australian conversation.
"It’s definitely something we haven’t ruled out. And we know it’s a growing segment, the full-size pick-up space in the Australian market," a Toyota Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide.
"We wouldn’t rule out a Tundra coming to Australia in the future, but at the moment we have no solid plans. But if there’s a global business case put together that Australia could be put into, then there’s no reason we wouldn’t seriously consider the Tundra for Australia."
The current-gen Tundra is Toyota's biggest American truck, measuring a whopping 5814mm in length, 1961mm in height and 2029mm in width in its TRD Pro guise. In comparison, the 2019 Toyota HiLux Rugged X Double Cab measures 5350mm in length, 1815mm in height and 1885mm in width.
Helping shift the Tundra's considerable bulk is a choice of two whopping V8 engines; a 4.6-litre unit good for 231kW and 443Nm, or a bigger 5.7-litre engine that delivers 284kW and 543Nm. Toyota claims a maximum 753kg payload, and a maximum 4.5-tonne towing capacity.
And if you are keen to see the the next-generation Tundra touchdown in Australia, then we have more good news for you, with Hollis promising he would "figure out a way" to make it happen.
"It’s about listening to the customer. If customers are demanding it out of Australia, we’ll figure out a way. That’s just how it works," he said.
"There has to be a need for us to be able to do it... I’m open to working with Australia to make it happen."
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