2016 Toyota Tacoma Debuts, Is (Mostly) Modern - Car and Driver (blog)
It reminds us a bit of Toyota, where four-speed automatics and five-speed manuals live on in many of its models, yet the company’s coffers could no doubt fund bleeding-edge technology. So it went with the Tacoma mid-size pickup , which was barely updated in the last decade and yet remained the bestselling truck in its segment that entire time. But times have finally changed, and fresh entries—namely the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon —have forced Toyota to update its entry-level workhorse. Mostly New Powertrain Pieces Yet there remain significant carry-overs from before: Base 2016 Tacomas retain the wheezy, coarse 2. 7-liter four-cylinder and standard five-speed stick. the Scion FR-S (which is sold elsewhere as the Toyota 86), Lexus IS350, and Lexus GS350 also feature D-4S. Basically, port injection is used at lower speeds for more efficient operation, and the engine switches to direct injection as revs increase... Toyota wasn’t ready to discuss final output figures, but we expect a 40- to 50-horsepower bump over the current 236-hp V-6. A six-speed gearbox (hey, we’re using two hands to count forward ratios. ) will be the only available automatic for both engines, while a revised six-speed manual is reserved for the V-6. On the styling front, the new Tacoma is most definitely a Toyota pickup. Source: www.caranddriver.com
