The new Tundra will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas (TMMTX) in San Antonio. But years before it hit the production line, U.S. designers and engineers were hard at work on Toyota’s next full-sized Tundra pickup.
The Tundra is an American story through and through. From the first pencil sketches to the finished exterior design, the look was developed by Toyota Motor Corporation’s North American design studio, Calty Design Research, in Newport Beach, California, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. While engineers focused on key performance ingredients for the new Tundra, Calty designers worked to create the visual exemplification of toughness and capability. “Technical muscle” was a design mantra for the team, as it capitalized on the modern features of the all-new truck while retaining a nod to the outdoor lifestyle at the core of Tundra owners.
“Our design goal from the beginning was to create the most powerful, rugged and sophisticated looking full-size pickup that will take Tundra to a whole new level,” said Kevin Hunter, president of Calty Design Research. “Because recreation and an outdoor lifestyle are at the core of Toyota truck identity, we set out to create a muscular, chiseled and athletic design that also looks like it could handle the toughest towing demands.”
The interior was meant to retain that “Technical Muscle” motif. Calty chose a horizontal layout theme as a departure from the vertical layout on most other trucks in the market. This complemented the design goal to integrate the instrument panel and center stack to flow with the interior layout. Premium materials were also a must for a truck with a strong pedigree like Tundra’s, especially in high-contact areas, which is why wrapped armrests, pads across the dash, door and other areas are employed on most trims.
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