A redesigned 2024 Toyota Tacoma bowed earlier this 12 months completely with turbo-4 powertrains, however an idea unveiled at this week’s 2023 SEMA present a minimum of teases the opportunity of a twin-turbocharged V-6 making its means below the mid-size truck’s hood.

The Tacoma X-Runner idea is a contemporary tackle the basic avenue truck method, in that it is lowered, quick, and possibly subsequent to ineffective when heading off-road due. It additionally options rear-wheel drive.

In response to Adam Rabinowitz, the chief designer at Toyota’s Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Calty Design Analysis, one of many causes for creating the idea was to gauge curiosity in a possible manufacturing model. One other was to indicate the flexibleness of the Tacoma’s TNGA-F body-on-frame platform.

That platform is shared with the Tundra pickup, amongst different automobiles, and this enabled Toyota engineers to simply set up a few of the full-size truck’s options within the Tacoma X-Runner idea.

A key merchandise carried over from the Tundra is a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6. It includes a 421-hp ranking within the Tacoma X-Runner idea, or 32 hp greater than what the engine delivers within the Tundra. That horsepower bump is courtesy of a TRD Efficiency Package deal which was additionally introduced on the SEMA present and set to be made obtainable to Tundra consumers subsequent 12 months.

Additionally borrowed from the Tundra is a strong axle with 4.30:1 closing drive and an digital locking differential to separate the drive torque between the rear wheels. The Tundra’s 13.9-inch entrance brake rotors are additionally used on the idea.

For that correct avenue truck stance, the engineers put in an air suspension system borrowed from the Tundra. This required modifying the Tacoma’s suspension arms to match the Tundra’s suspension geometry. Finishing the chassis are a set of two.5-inch Bilstein aluminum bodied shocks with distant reservoirs at every nook, and 21-inch wheels with 285/45-size Michelin efficiency rubber. The wheels are a hybrid design combining an aluminum hub with carbon-fiber spokes.

Inside, the modifications are restricted to some sporty touches like a 12 o’clock mark on the steering wheel, body-hugging seats, and paddle shifters for the Tacoma’s 8-speed automated.