Toyota's Newest Tacoma Truck a Salvo to Regain U.S. Vehicle Market Share - TheStreet.com
introduced its midsized Tacoma pickup truck in 2005, then allowed a decade to go by until the model's latest redesign -- quite a long stretch in modern automotive terms. The new 2016 Tacoma, which begins arriving at dealerships this month, represents a key facet of Toyota's latest effort to regain the big chunk of U. S. market share it lost after the global financial crisis. Among the new features of the 2016 model are a more powerful V6 engine, specialized technology for off-roading and a GoPro camera mount for documenting wilderness adventures or a stop by the highway patrol. The new Tacoma now faces formidable competition from General Motors in the midsize segment from GM's Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon models. GM developed its midsize models mainly as a weapon against Ford, which still lacks a midsize entry. Among Tacoma's features aimed at off-roaders is "crawl control," a computerized system that allows a driver to climb or descend over steep, rough terrain in low gear and at slow speed, without putting feet on brake or accelerator. Using only the steering wheel to guide direction, crawl control automatically directs power and braking to the appropriate wheels, depending on their traction, to optimize stability and climbing ability. Source: www.thestreet.com
